11-MONTH MERCHANDISE EXPORTS INCREASE 17.3 PERCENT

Aggregate receipts from merchandise exports for the 11-month period from January to November 1998 grew by 17.3 percent to $26.973 billion from $22.997 billion in 1997.

Receipt for November 1998 increased by 12.0 percent to $2.586 billion from $2.308 billion last year.

ELECTRONICS EXPORTS 52.9 PERCENT OF AGGREGATE REVENUE

Electronics and Components valued at $1.369 billion and accounting for 52.9 percent of the total November 1998 earnings was the top dollar-earner. This group increased by 28.7 percent from $1.063 billion last year.

Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories was the second top merchandise exports which amounted to $191.10 million. This was however a 1.5 percent decline from $194.08 million in 1997.

In third spot was Input/Output/Peripheral Units with $177.64 million which was 11.8 percent higher than $158.93 million a year ago.

Revenues from Woodcraft and Furniture exports registered a 10.7 percent decline to $38.42 million, down from $43.00 million in November 1997.

Total receipts from Ignition Wiring Set and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircrafts and Ships fell by 21.0 percent to $37.12 million from $46.99 million in 1997.

Earnings from Coconut Oil followed despite a 49.6 percent drop to $32.32 million from $64.13 million last year.

Rounding up the list of top exports were Metal Components, $24.95 million; Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, $24.51 million; Fresh Bananas, $21.18 million; and Gold, $17.05 million.

Aggregate payments for the top ten exports for November 1998 amounted to $1.933 billion or 74.8 percent of the total.

RECEIPTS FROM MANUFACTURED GOODS UP BY 16.5 PERCENT

Exports of manufactured goods increased by 16.5 percent to $2.339 billion from $2.008 billion a year earlier. This major export group accounted for 90.4 percent of total receipts.

Income from Agro-Based and Other Agro-Based Products combined for $125.26 million or 4.8 percent of the total. Aggregate revenues from these commodity groups dipped by 21.2 percent from $158.99 million in November last year.

Other major commodity groups and their respective earnings were Special Transactions, $68.19 million; Mineral Products, $41.40 million; Petroleum Products, $8.09 million; and Forest Products, $4.34 million.

US TOP MARKET FOR NOVEMBER

The United States (US) market bought 33.8 percent of total November 1998 exports. Posting a 10.6 percent increase, sales to the US amounted to $874.92 million from $790.96 million a year earlier.

With a 12.9 percent share, Japan was the second biggest market. Reported receipts amounted to $334.73 million which was 9.9 percent lower than $371.53 million a year ago.

Netherlands was the third biggest market for November 1998. Shipments amounted to $239.03 million, which was 9.2 percent of the total.

Other top markets for November 1998 were United Kingdom of Great Britain with $148.43 million; Singapore, $139.79 million; Malaysia, $139.24 million; Taiwan, $139.11 million; Hongkong, $120.55 million; Germany, $91.30 million; and Thailand, $51.42 million.

Shipments to the top ten markets amounted to $2.279 billion and accounted for 88.1 percent of the aggregate export revenue.

Source: National Statistics Office
               Manila, Philippines