A. PPI for agriculture at the country level went up further in the first quarter of 2021

The Philippines’ annual growth rate of PPI for agriculture accelerated further to 8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2021, from an annual growth of 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, PPI for agriculture dropped at an annual rate of -2.9 percent. (Figure 1, and Tables 6 and 7)

Among the regions, the highest annual growth rate of PPI for agriculture in the first quarter of 2021 was noted in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) at 58.2 percent, while the lowest was observed in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) at -4.7 percent. (Table 7)

B. By Major Commodity Group

1. PPI for crops picked up in the first quarter of 2021

The annual growth rate of PPI for crops for the Philippines moved at a faster at 8.9 percent during the first quarter of 2021, from 2.2 percent annual increase in the previous quarter. (Figure 2, and Tables 6 and 8)

Annual hikes were higher in the indices of the following commodity groups during the quarter:

a. Condiments, 74.8 percent; 
b. Leafy vegetables, 77.0 percent; 
c. Fruits, 3.5 percent; and 
d. Commercial crops, 12.5 percent.

In addition, the index of rootcrops climbed by 8.4 percent during the quarter, from an annual decrease of -4.8 percent in the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, the index of fruit vegetables exhibited a slower annual increase of 9.4 percent during the quarter. Moreover, annual declines were noted in the indices of cereals at -4.9 percent; and beans and legumes, -2.0 percent. (Tables 6 and 11)

2. PPI for livestock and poultry continued to move upward in the first quarter of 2021

The country’s double-digit annual growth rate of PPI for livestock and poultry rose further to 23.7 percent during the first quarter of 2021, from its annual growth of 20.6 percent in the previous quarter. In the same quarter of 2020, its annual rate was registered at -2.2 percent. (Figure 3, and Tables 6 and 9)

A higher double-digit annual increment of 44.5 percent was recorded in the index of livestock during the quarter. Likewise, the index of poultry also posted a double-digit annual growth of 12.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021, from an annual rate of -3.4 percent in the previous quarter. 
(Tables 6 and 12)

3. PPI for fishery declined further during the first quarter of 2021

The PPI for fishery at the national level continued to move downward as its annual rate dropped further to -16.8 percent in the first quarter of 2021, from -8.1 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2020. Its annual change was observed at -2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2020. (Figure 4, and Tables 6 and 10)

The indices of the commodity groups such as commercial fishery, inland municipal fishery, and marine municipal fishery exhibited faster annual decreases during the quarter. Meanwhile, the negative annual rate of -5.2 percent posted in the index of aquaculture was lower relative to its annual decline of -5.9 percent in the previous quarter. (Tables 6 and 13)