* Includes transactions that passed through Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS) of the Subic Bay    Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
p - preliminary
r - revised

Merchandise exports down by 1.6 percent   

Export earnings for November 2005  dropped by 1.6 percent to $3.626 billion from $3.685 billion during the same period of the previous year.

Receipts from merchandise exports during the period January to November 2005 grew by 2.7 percent to $37.390 billion from $36.403 billion during the same period a year earlier.

Electronic products register 1.3 percent decrease   

Electronic products, accounting for 68.1 percent of the aggregate export revenue in November, fell by 1.3 percent to $2.468 billion from $2.499 billion of the previous year. Decreases were observed in five electronic groups with communication/radar contributing the biggest negative growth of 31.0 percent.

Among the major groups of electronic products, components/devices (Semiconductors) got the highest share with 51.2 percent to total exports. Semiconductors posted a positive rate of 1.2 percent to $1.856 billion from $1.835 billion during the same month in 2004.

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories remained as the country’s second top earner with a combined share of 4.6 percent and an aggregate receipt of $166.15 million or 6.1 percent lower than $177.01 million a year ago.

Coconut oil, ranked third with sales amounting to $56.75 million or a year-on-year negative growth of 5.5 percent from $60.03 million.  

Petroleum products, ranked fourth with total revenue of $52.52 million reflecting a 42.9 percent increase from $36.76 million during the same period of 2004. This can be attributed to the higher demand in fuel and gas oils. 

Revenue from other products manufactured from materials imported on consignment basis decreased by 40.2 percent to $51.61 million from $86.26 million.  

Rounding up the list of the top exports for the month of November 2005 were Ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (consists only of electrical wiring harness for motor vehicles), $51.43 million; bananas (fresh), $43.19 million; metal components $31.76 million; cathodes and sections of cathodes, of refined copper, $30.38 million and woodcrafts and furniture, $28.58 million.

Total receipts for the top ten exports reached $2.980 billion, or 82.2 percent of the total exports.

Fig. 1  Philippine Top Exports: November 2005 and 2004
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

Exports of manufactured goods down by 2.9 percent

Accounting for 89.7 percent of the total receipts, exports of manufactured goods was worth $3.252 billion, a  2.9 percent reduction from $3.350 billion during the same period a year ago.

Earnings from all agro-based products combined for $172.40 million or 4.8 percent of the total export revenue. Compared to last year, aggregate receipt for this commodity group gained by 2.2 percent from $168.65 million.

Income from special transactions grew by 13.7 percent to $79.73 million from $70.14 million while receipts from exports of mineral products went up by 18.5 percent to $67.56 million from $57.01 million.

Petroleum products recorded earnings of $52.52 million, while forest products posted $2.22 million.

Fig. 2  Philippine Exports by Commodity Group: November 2005 and 2004
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

 

Exports to Japan account for 17.4 percent

Accounting for 17.4 percent of the country's aggregate income for the month, exports to Japan was valued at $632.29 million. Receipts fell by 27.7 percent from last year's reported figure of $874.86 million. 

United States followed with a 17.0 percent share. Earnings at $617.23 million, moved up by 8.1 percent from $570.83 million.

Netherlands emerged as the third biggest market for the month as shipments of local goods amounted to $397.36 million or 11.0 percent of the total. Receipts dropped by 7.5 percent from $429.77 million during to the same period of 2004.

Exports to People's Republic of China accounting for 9.1 percent of the total receipts was worth $329.09 million, a 22.9 percent increment from $267.74 million during the same month of the previous year.

Other top markets for November 2005 were: Hong Kong, with exports worth $298.17 million; Singapore, $250.67 million;  Malaysia, $210.33 million; Taiwan, $187.90 million; Germany, $138.72 million; and Thailand, $113.60 million.

Total export receipts from RP's top ten markets for the month of November amounted to $3.175 billion or 87.6 percent of the total.

Fig. 3  Philippine Top Exports by Country: November 2005
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

Source:       Economic Indices and Indicators Division
               Industry and Trade Statistics Department
               National Statistics Office
               Manila, Philippines