Table A. Quantity and Value of Domestic Trade
Fourth Quarter 2020^p, Third Quarter 2020^r, and Fourth Quarter 2019^r

        a – quantity in tons and value in PhP
        p – preliminary, r – revised
       Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade declined

The total quantity of domestic trade in the fourth quarter of 2020 was recorded at 3.17 million tons. This represents an annual decrement of -38.8 percent, from a -36.2 percent annual decrease in the previous quarter. In the same quarter of 2019, the annual decline was -34.0 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. Commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified led in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade in the fourth quarter of 2020 with 0.94 million tons or a share of 29.6 percent to the total. This was followed by food and live animals with 0.59 million tons (18.6%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material with 0.57 million tons (17.9%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

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

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) recorded the highest quantity of traded commodities with 1.30 million tons or 41.1 percent share to the total in the fourth quarter of 2020. This was followed by Northern Mindanao (Region X) with a quantity of 1.05 million tons (33.0%) and Bicol Region (Region V) with 0.34 million tons (10.7%). (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 fourth quarter of 2020 amounted to PhP 82.19 billion. This indicates a contraction of -53.5 percent from the PhP 176.84 billion value of domestic trade in the same period of 2019.

By mode of transport, the total value of traded commodities through water accounted for almost all (99.96%) of the total commodities that flow within the country, while the remaining were traded through air. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

2. Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material registered the highest value of traded commodities

Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material topped in terms of the value of traded commodities with PhP 26.72 billion or 32.5 percent share to the total. This was followed by machinery and transport equipment valued at PhP 24.38 billion (29.7%) and food and live animals which amounted to PhP 13.29 billion (16.2%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. Northern Mindanao recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, Northern Mindanao (Region X) ranked first with a total value of traded commodities of PhP 29.96 billion or 36.5 percent share to the total in the fourth quarter of 2020. Central Visayas (Region VII) came next with traded commodities amounting PhP 23.17 billion (28.2%), followed by Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) with PhP 17.54 billion (21.3%). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4. Caraga 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, Caraga (Region XIII) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade of PhP 20.94 billion or 25.5 percent share to the total in the fourth quarter of 2020. This was followed by Central Visayas (Region VII) with inflow value of PhP 14.18 billion (17.2%) and National Capital Region (NCR) with PhP 9.12 billion (11.1%). On the other hand, Cagayan Valley (Region II) had the lowest inflow value which amounted to PhP 0.50 million. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5. Northern Mindanao 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 fourth quarter of 2020 were the following:

a. Northern Mindanao (Region X), PhP 21.09 billion;
b. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), PhP 9.28 billion; and
c. Central Visayas (Region VII), PhP 8.99 billion.

On the other hand, top three regions with unfavorable (negative) trade balances in the fourth quarter of 2020 were the following:

a. Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -19.24 billion;
b. NCR, PhP -9.12 billion; and
c. Western Visayas (Region VI), PhP -6.76 billion. (Figure 8 and 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 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) on or before the 30th day of the 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 of the Economic Sector Statistics Service.

Dissemination

Quarterly Special Releases on domestic trade statistics are published on the PSA website two months after the reference quarter. Revised data which incorporate information from records received after the set quarterly deadline are included in the next release.

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