FOUR-MONTH EXPORTS POST 12.1 PERCENT GROWTH

Revenue from merchandise exports for the first four months of 1999 grew by 12.1 percent to $10.198 billion from $9.101 billion last year.

For April 1999, aggregate receipts went up by $60.0 million or 2.7 percent to $2.345 billion from $2.285 billion last year.

ELECTRONICS EXPORTS UP BY 8.2 PERCENT

Revenue from exports of Electronics and Components, which accounted for 56.0 percent of the aggregate, grew by 8.2 percent to $1.314 billion from $1.214 billion last year.

Input/Output/Peripheral Units, the second top earner despite a 7.1 percent backslide, raked in $140.55 million compared to $151.28 million a year ago.

Earnings from exports of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories dropped by 13.3 percent to $133.36 million from $153.87 million last year.

Ignition Wiring Sets and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircrafts and Ships comprised the fourth highest earning merchandise export. Valued at $34.19 million, receipts increased by 26.0 percent from $27.14 million in 1998.

Woodcraft and Furniture followed with an export value of $33.97 million, up by 2.2 percent from $33.23 million a year ago.

Rounding up the list of the top ten dollar earners for April 1999 were Metal Components, $26.05 million; Fresh Bananas, $23.49 million; Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, $16.62 million; Coconut Oil, $16.62 million; and Gold, $15.73 million.

Total receipts from the top ten exports amounted to $1.75 billion or 74.8 percent of the total for the month.

MANUFACTURED GOODS ACCOUNT FOR 89.5 PERCENT

Led by Electronic Equipment and Parts, manufactured goods accounted for 89.5 percent of the aggregate. Valued at $2.1 billion, Manufacturesposted a 4.6 percent increase from $2.0 billion last year.

Agro-Based Products and Other Agro-Based Products combined for $124.04 million or 5.3 percent of the total receipt. Fruits and vegetables made up 36.7 percent of this aggregate value.

Other major commodity groups and their respective values were Special Transactions, $69.08 million; Mineral Products, $36.73 million; Petroleum Products, $14.52 million; and Forest Products, $1.31 million.

US ACCOUNTS FOR 30.7 PERCENT OF EXPORTS

Exports to the United States, accounting for 30.7 percent of the total, declined by 7.7 percent to $720.65 million from $780.50 million a year earlier.

Japan purchased some $322.26 million worth of Philippine goods, which was a 0.1 percent upturn from $321.90 million last year. Its share, which was less than half of the exports to the United States, stood at 13.7 percent.

Singapore and the Netherlands were the third and fourth biggest markets respectively. Exports to Singapore amounted to $212.63 million whileNetherlands bought $191.29 million worth of merchandise.

Other major markets were Taiwan, $146.16 million; Hong Kong, $118.26 million; United Kingdom of Great Britain, $105.77 million; Malaysia, $85.41 million; Germany, $84.04 million; and Republic of Korea, $58.83 million.

Aggregate value of exports to the top ten markets amounted to $2.045 billion or 87.2 percent of the total.

Source: National Statistics Office
               Manila, Philippines

Page Last Updated: May 8, 2001