* Includes transactions that passed through Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS).
p - preliminary
r - revised

MERCHANDISE EXPORTS RECORDED 13.2 PERCENT INCREMENT

Export earnings in September 2006 grew by 13.2 percent to $4.160 billion from $3.675 billion during the same period of the previous year. The export revenue for this month continued to record a double-digit growth although at a slower pace.

Receipts from merchandise exports during January to September rose to 16.4 percent to $35.118 billion from $30.162 billion during the same period a year earlier.

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS UP BY 6.5 PERCENT

Electronic Products, accounting for 64.0 percent of the aggregate export revenue in September, recorded an increase of 6.5 percent to $2.661 billion from $2.499 billion a year ago.

Among the major groups of electronic products, Components/Devices (Semiconductors) got the major share with 47.1 percent to total exports, posting a growth of 3.9 percent to $1.960 billion from $1.886 billion during the same month in 2005. The other electronic products group that showed increases were Electronic Data Processing at 19.3 percent with a share of 13.4 percent, Office Equipment at 52.1 percent with a share of 0.6 percent, Telecommunication at 101.7 percent with a share of 0.5 percent, Control and Instrumentation at 109.3 percent with a share of 0.1 percent, and Medical/Industrial Instrumentation at 85.2 percent with a share of 0.03 percent to total exports.

Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories remained as the countrys second top earner with a combined share of 5.6 percent and an aggregate receipt of $232.01 million or 14.7 percent higher than $202.26 million a year ago. This was brought about by the bulk order of mens and womens wear, as well as cotton and not knitted/crocheted trousers and breeches, jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles (cotton and knitted/crocheted).

Petroleum Products, ranked third with total revenue of $104.19 million reflecting a 40.8 percent climb from $74.03 million during the same period of 2005. The growth in petroleum products could be attributed to the higher demand in gas oil (other than diesel oil), fuel oils and petroleum naphtha.

Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes of Refined Copper, ranked fourth with sales amounting to $98.75 million or an acceleration of 506.5 percent from $16.28 million.

Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, ranked fifth with export receipts of $85.52 million or a year-on-year growth of 80.2 percent from $47.45 million.

Rounding up the list of the top exports for the month of September 2006 were Ignition Wiring Set and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircrafts and Ships (consists only of electrical wiring harness for motor vehicles), $74.30 million or a year-on-year growth of 22.9 percent; Woodcrafts and Furniture, with revenue recorded at $66.74 million or an annual increase of 85.1 percent due to higher demand in other builders joinery and carpentry of wood and other wooden furniture; Metal Components with proceeds billed at $39.33 million recorded an increment of 31.8 percent from $29.85 million that resulted from the higher demand of other gear-boxes, other parts and accessories of bodies of motor vehicles and parts of air conditioning machines; Coconut Oil with an export valued at $37.53 million posting a decline of 19.9 percent from the same period in 2005.   Gold recorded the least export receipts at $34.17 million but recorded the highest growth of 668.7 percent due to higher demand in gold bullion.

Total receipts from the top ten exports reached $3.433 billion, or 82.5 percent of the total exports.

Fig. 1  Philippine Top Exports: September 2006 and 2005
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)
 

EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURED GOODS GREW BY 10.5 PERCENT

Accounting for 87.6 percent of the total receipts, export of Manufactured Goods was $3.646 billion or a 10.5 percent growth from $3.300 billion during the same period of 2005.  

Earnings from Mineral Products reached  $191.99 million or 4.6 percent of the total export revenue. Compared to last year, aggregate receipt for this commodity group gained by as much as 234.5 percent from $57.40 million due to the higher demand in copper metal and other mineral products.

Income from All Agro-Based Products rose by 10.3 percent to $163.33 million from $148.11 million while receipts from exports of Petroleum Products inched up by 40.8 percent to $104.19 million from $74.03 million.

Receipts from Special Transactions and Forest Products were recorded at $53.07 million and $2.26 million, respectively.

Fig. 2  Philippine Exports by Commodity Group: September 2006 and 2005
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)
 
 

EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES ACCOUNT FOR 19.9 PERCENT

Exports to United States valued at $825.8 million, accounted for 19.9 percent of the countrys aggregate income for the month. Receipts went up by 24.1 percent from last year's reported figure of $665.23 million.

Japan followed with earnings of $646.81 million or a 15.6 percent share of the total exports for the month. Exports to Japan declined by 1.6 percent from  $657.49 million recorded in 2005.

Peoples Republic of China emerged as the third biggest market for the month with shipments amounted to $420.87 million or 10.1 percent of the total, an increment of 23.1 percent from a year ago level of $341.78 million.

Netherlands, with a $400.54 million or 9.6 percent of the total revenue, reflected a 7.1 percent growth from $374.10 million during the same month a year ago.

Other top markets for September 2006 were Hongkong, $357.90 million; Singapore, $265.10 million; Malaysia, $210.61 million; Taiwan, $194.61 million; Germany, $157.19 million; and Thailand, $129.61 million.

Total export receipts from RPs top ten markets for the month of September amounted to $3.609 billion or 86.8 percent of the total.

 Fig. 3  Philippine Top Exports by Country: September 2006
 (F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

Technical Notes:

1. Analysis and Tables 1 to 3 in this Press Release are based on data using the 1993 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC) groupings  (as amended in 1999).

2. Starting with the July 2006 series of Foreign Trade Statistics (FTS), additional tables (Tables 4 and 5) using the 2004 PSCC groupings are provided.

3.The adoption of the 2004 PSCC is in compliance with NSCB Resolution No. 03, Series of 2005 entitled    "Approving and Adopting the 2004 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification" by all concerned government agencies and instrumentalities.

4. In view of the adoption of the new classification system, the NSO shall issue two sets of detailed tables: 7-digit following the 1993 PSCC (as amended in 1999) and 10-digit using the 2004 PSCC simultaneously, until the December 2006 FTS. However, beginning January 2007 FTS, only the 2004 PSCC groupings will be released by NSO.

5. Detailed tables at commodity levels are available upon request from the NSO-Industry and Trade Statistics Department, 10 days after the monthly press release.

Source:    Foreign Trade Statistics Section
               Industry and Trade Statistics Department
               National Statistics Office
               Manila, Philippines