A. Quantity

1.    Quantity of domestic trade increased

The total quantity of domestic trade in 2023 was registered at 27.45 million tons. This represents an annual increase of 47.3 percent from the 18.63 million tons recorded quantity of domestic trade in 2022. In 2022, an annual decline of 20.1 percent was reported.

Almost all (99.9%) of the commodities were traded through water (coastwise), while the rest were traded through air in 2023. (Figure 1 and Table A)

2.    Food and live animals topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, food and live animals led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in 2023 with 5.74 million tons or a share of 20.9 percent to the total domestic trade. This was followed by machinery and transport equipment with 5.39 million tons (19.6%) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with 5.03 million tons (18.3%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

3.    National Capital Region led in terms of quantity of traded commodities

By region, the National Capital Region (NCR) registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 5.41 million tons or 19.7 percent share to the total domestic trade in 2023. This was followed by Central Luzon (Region III) with a quantity of 5.39 million tons (19.6%) and Central Visayas (Region VII) with 4.64 million tons (16.9%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1.    Value of domestic trade increased

Domestic trade value refers to the outflow value of commodities transported from the region/province of origin to another region/province of destination.

The total value of domestic trade in 2023 amounted to PhP 1.06 trillion. This indicates an annual increase of 25.8 percent from the PhP 845.50 billion value of domestic trade in 2022.

By mode of transport, almost all (99.96%) of the commodities that flowed within the country in 2023 were traded through water (coastwise), while the remaining were traded through air. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

2.    Machinery and transport equipment registered the highest value of traded commodities

Machinery and transport equipment topped in terms of value of traded commodities with PhP 362.66 billion or 34.1 percent share to the total domestic trade value in 2023. This was followed by food and live animals at PhP 237.00 billion (22.3%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material at PhP 154.90 billion (14.6%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3.    NCR recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, NCR topped with PhP 303.65 billion value of traded commodities or 28.5 percent of the total value of traded commodities in 2023. This was followed by Central Visayas (Region VII) with traded commodities amounting to PhP 272.54 billion (25.6%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 137.55 billion (12.9%) worth of traded commodities. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4.    Central Visayas led in terms of inflow value

Inflow refers to the value of commodities that enter a specified region/province from other regions/provinces.

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade at PhP 260.18 billion or 24.5 percent share to the total inflow of domestic trade in 2023. This was followed by Caraga (Region XIII) with an inflow value of PhP 135.40 billion (12.7%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 133.40 billion (12.5%). On the other hand, Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the lowest inflow value, which amounted to PhP 35.80 thousand in 2023. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5.    NCR registered the highest favorable trade balance

Trade balance is the difference between the outflow value and inflow value. A positive value indicates a favorable trade balance, while a negative value indicates an unfavorable trade balance.

The top three regions with favorable (positive) domestic trade balances in 2023 were the following:

a.    NCR, PhP 210.69 billion;
b.    Central Luzon (Region III), PhP 47.57 billion; and
c.    Bicol Region (Region V), PhP 29.28 billion.

On the other hand, the top three regions with unfavorable (negative) domestic trade balances in 2023 were the following:

a.    Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -110.09 billion;
b.    Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), PhP -67.09 billion; and
c.    Davao Region (Region XI), PhP -38.84 billion. (Figure 8 and Table 3)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD
Assistant Secretary
Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office