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

SEPTEMBER 2009 MERCHANDISE EXPORTS POSTED 18.3 PERCENT DECLINE

Export earnings in September 2009 dropped by 18.3 percent from $4.446 billion in September 2008 to $3.634 billion.  Compared to previous months level, however, it grew by 4.6 percent from $3.473 billion in August 2009.  Aggregate merchandise exports from January to September 2009, on the other hand, declined by 29.0 percent from $38.900 billion registered during the same nine-month period in 2008  to $27.639 billion.

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS DOWN BY 13.2 PERCENT

Accounting for 61.9 percent of the total export revenue in September 2009, Electronic Productsamounted to $2.250 billion. It was lower by 13.2 percent from $2.592 billion recorded in September 2008.  The decline can be attributed to the 15.4 percent annual decrease in theComponents/Devices (Semiconductors) which comprised 44.3 percent of the total exports and the biggest share among the major groups of electronic products.   However, month-on-month, it increased by 9.3 percent from $2.058 billion in August 2009.

Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories representing 3.1 percent share of total exports in September 2009 emerged as RPs second top earner with revenue valued at $113.91 million or a negative growth of 37.1 percent over last years figure of $181.21 million.   

Woodcrafts and Furniture followed as the third top earner in September 2009 with total export earnings of $88.52 million or a share of 2.4 percent to the total export receipts.  It fell by 12.8 percent from $101.45 million in September 2008.

Ranked fourth in September 2009 and contributing 2.2 percent to the total export receipts wasIgnition Wiring Set and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircrafts and Ships (consisting only of electrical wiring harness for motor vehicles) with revenue amounting to $80.08 million. This value increased by 9.5 percent from its year ago level of $73.12 million.

Coconut Oil (including crude and refined) with 1.8 percent share to the total export receipts ranked fifth with value posted at $65.18 million or 21.0 percent increase from  $53.88 million in September 2008.

Rounding up the list of the top ten exports for the month of September 2009 were Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis with export receipts amounting to $63.06 million exhibited the highest positive annual growth of 25.9 percent among the top ten exports in September 2009; Metal Components (excluding brakes and servo  brakes) with export earnings of $50.95 million was up by 5.8 percent; Petroleum Products (including refined petroleum products, manufactured from crude petroleum oil imported on consignment basis) with proceeds billed at $28.16 million was down by 81.9 percent; Pineapple and Pineapple Products  with sales amounting to $25.14 million rose by 6.7 percent; and Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes, of Refined Copper with export revenue of $24.24 million declined by  86.4 percent, the highest  year-on-year negative growth among the top ten exports in September 2009. 

Total receipts from the top ten exports reached $2.789 billion, or 76.8 percent of the total exports.

Fig. 1  Philippine Top Five Exports: September 2009 and 2008
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)
 

EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURED GOODS STOOD AT $3.184 BILLION

Accounting for 87.6 percent of the total receipts, outward shipments of Manufactured Goods in September 2009 reached $3.184 billion or a 13.3 percent decrease from $3.674 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier. On the other hand, it went up by 4.3 percent from $3.053 billion recorded in August 2009.  

Income from Total Agro-Based Products comprising 5.4 percent of the total exports revenue in September 2009 plummeted by 8.4 percent from $212.81 million in September 2008 to $195.04 million.

Earnings from Mineral Products with a share of 2.5 percent in September 2009 reached $89.22 million, reflecting a 66.8 percent decline from $268.60 million in September 2008.  However, export receipts from Special Transactions with a share of 3.7 percent went up by 2.1 percent to $135.46 million from $132.72 million in September 2008.

Exports revenue of Petroleum Products with 0.8 percent share of the total exports plunged by 81.9 percent from $155.39 million in September 2008 to $28.16 million. Similarly, Forest Products with 0.1 percent share of the total exports dropped by 6.1 percent from $2.31 million registered in September 2008 to $2.17 million in September 2009.

Fig. 2  Philippine Exports by Commodity Group: September 2009 and 2008
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)
 

EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES ACCOUNTED FOR 17.8 PERCENT

United States of America (USA) including Alaska and Hawaii, comprising 17.8 percent of the total exports for September 2009 emerged as the countrys top destination of exports for September 2009 with revenue amounting to $648.40 million. It was lower by 19.7 percent from $806.95 million recorded a year earlier.

Japan including Okinawa, followed as the second top market of the country for September 2009 with export earnings of $610.39 million or 16.8 percent share of the total exports. The amount declined by 5.4 percent from $645.12 million reported in September 2008.

Hong Kong came in third with shipments amounting to $453.40 million and representing 12.5 percent of the total exports. The amount went up by 3.5 percent from its year ago level of $438.25 million.

Netherlands ranked fourth in September 2009 with $384.22 million or 10.6 percent of the total exports increased by 12.3 percent from $342.04 million recorded in September 2008.

Fifth in rank and accounting for 6.1 percent share from the total exports was Singapore with revenue amounting to $221.73 million or a year-on-year decrease of 14.4 percent from $259.00 million.

Other top ten markets for September 2009 were Germany, $210.79 million; Peoples Republic ofChina $169.08 million; Republic of Korea, $160.66 million; Thailand, $127.34 million; andTaiwan, $122.49 million.

Total export receipts from RPs top ten markets for the month of September 2009 amounted to $3.109 billion or 85.5 percent of the total.

                                  Fig. 3  Philippine Top Exports by Country: September 2009
                                                   (F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

EXPORTS FROM EASTERN ASIA WORTH $1.517 BILLION

Philippines total exports in September 2009 with Eastern Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan) accounted for 41.8 percent of the countys total exports; amounting to $1.517 billion or a negative annual growth of 24.9 percent  from September 2008 level of $2.020 billion.

Exports to European Union (EU) in September 2009 representing 21.0 percent share to the total exports in September 2009 increased by 8.8 percent year-on-year to $762.82 million from $700.97 million in September 2008.

Total exports to ASEAN member-countries with 14.4 percent share in September 2009 decreased by 22.3 percent from $672.21 million in September 2008 to $522.45 million.

Fig. 4  Philippine Exports by Selected Economic Bloc in September: 2009
(F.O.B. Value in Million US Dollars)

Technical Note:

Starting with the January 2007 Press Release, analysis and tables are based on the 2004 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC) groupings (as amended in 1999).  This 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.

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