A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade dropped

The total quantity of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2021 was recorded at 4.57 million tons. This represents an annual decrement of -5.3 percent, from a -9.2 percent annual decrease in the previous quarter. In the same quarter of 2020, the annual decline was  faster at -27.0 percent. Almost all (99.9%) of the commodities were traded through water (coastwise) while the rest were traded through air. (Figure 1 and Table A)

2. Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, manufactured goods classified chiefly by material led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2021 with 1.37 million tons or a share of 30.0 percent to the total. This was followed by commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified with 1.12 million tons (24.5%) and food and live animals with 0.70 million tons (15.4%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

3. Central Visayas accounted for the highest quantity of traded commodities

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 2.65 million tons or 58.0 percent share to the total in the first quarter of 2021. This was followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with a quantity of 0.50 million tons (10.9%) and Caraga (Region XIII) with 0.35 million tons (7.7%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1. Value of domestic trade dropped 

Domestic trade value is the outflow value which refers to the value of commodities that goes out from a specified region/province to another region/province.

The total value of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2021 amounted to PhP 95.49 billion. This indicates a contraction of -33.2 percent from the PhP 143.04 billion value of domestic trade in the same period of 2020.

By mode of transport, the total value of traded commodities through water accounted for almost all (99.9%) of the total commodities that flow within the country, while the remaining were traded through air. (Figure 4 and Table 1) 

2. Machinery and transport equipment registered the highest value of traded commodities

Machinery and transport equipment topped in terms of the value of traded commodities with PhP 36.26 billion or 38.0 percent share to the total. This was followed by manufactured goods classified chiefly by material valued at PhP 19.70 billion (20.6%), and food and live animals which amounted to PhP 19.51 billion (20.4%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. Eastern Visayas recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) ranked first with a total value of traded commodities of PhP 25.70 billion or 26.9 percent share to the total in the first quarter of 2021. Central Visayas (Region VII) came next with traded commodities which amounted to PhP 20.41 billion (21.4%), followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 19.82 billion (20.8%). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4. Northern Mindanao led in terms of inflow value 

Inflow refers to the value of commodities that come into the specified region/province from other regions/provinces.

By region, Northern Mindanao (Region X) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade of PhP 24.73 billion or 25.9 percent share to the total in the first quarter of 2021. This was followed by Central Visayas (Region VII) with inflow value of PhP 14.00 billion (14.7%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 13.99 billion (14.7%). On the other hand, Cagayan Valley (Region II) had the lowest inflow value which amounted to PhP 1.50 million. (Figure 7 and Table 3)
 

5. Eastern Visayas recorded the highest trade balance

The trade balance is the difference between the outflow value and inflow value. 

The top three regions with favorable (positive) trade balances in the first quarter of 2021 were the following:

a. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), PhP 17.24 billion;
b. Central Visayas (Region VII), PhP 6.40 billion; and
c. Western Visayas (Region VI), PhP 5.83 billion.
(Figure 8 and Table 3)

On the other hand, top three regions with unfavorable (negative) trade balances in the first quarter of 2021 were the following:

a. Northern Mindanao (Region X), PhP -10.32 billion;
b. NCR, PhP -9.71 billion; and
c. BARMM, PhP -7.96 billion. (Table 3)
 

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Overview

Commodity flow or domestic trade statistics is a compilation of data on commodities carried through air, rail, and water transport systems within a given country. However, in the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) compiles domestic trade carried through air and water only.

Data on the inflow and outflow of commodities in the different regions of the country are used to construct inter-regional and inter-industry relation tables. These serve as bases in the formulation and implementation of various regional development programs like countryside development and port planning.

The 1993 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC), Revision 2 is used to classify the commodities at the 5-digit level (item) for coastwise statistics and 3-digit level (group) for air statistics.

Scope and Coverage

Domestic trade statistics contained in this report pertain to the flow of goods through airports and seaports in the country, whether for government or private use, or commercial purposes. It covers air trade and coastwise trade.

Goods and/or commodities that are excluded in the compilation of domestic data are the following:

a. Goods transported by vessels of the Philippine Navy;
b. Fishing ports;
c. Fish and other marine products landed directly from the sea;
d. Logistic goods intended for the vessel and the crew;
e. Cadaver; and
f. Vessels not carrying any cargo/passenger, wherein the vessel master indicates "NIL CARGO/ PASSENGER" in the coasting manifest or passenger documents.

Sources of Data

The source documents for the coastwise trade statistics are the coasting manifests and coastwise passenger manifests from major ports and other active seaports listed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) all over the country.  Air waybills, on the other hand, is the source document for air trade statistics issued by Philippine Airlines to every consignee.

Processing

All copies of documents are compiled and processed by the Provincial Statistical Offices (PSO) of PSA. The PSO submits monthly data files to the Central Office (CO) not later than one month after the reference month.

Final data review of the data files, generation of statistical tables, and preparation of Special Releases are done at the CO, particularly in the Trade Statistics Division (TSD) of the Economic Sector Statistics Service.

Dissemination

Quarterly Special Releases on domestic trade statistics are published two months after the reference quarter at the PSA website (www.psa.gov.ph) and at the OpenSTAT (openstat.psa.gov.ph). Revised data which incorporate information from records received after the set quarterly deadline are included in the next release.

Data requests on domestic trade statistics are available at TSD with telephone number (02) 8376-19-75 and email address tsd.staff@psa.gov.ph.