EXPORTS FOR 1ST SEMESTER OF 1998 UP BY 18.8 PERCENT

       Aggregate earning from exports for the first six months of 1998 amounted to $13.904 billion, which increased by 18.8 percent over $11.700 billion last year.

       Total earnings for June alone reached $2.389 billion for a 12.2 percent growth over $2.129 billion in 1997.

ELECTRONICS AND COMPONENTS POST 46.0 PERCENT GAIN

       Shipments of Electronics and Components, still the top dollar earner with a 51.5 percent share, grew by 46.0 percent to $1.230 billion from $842.59 million last year.

       Accounting for 9.7 percent of the aggregate receipt, Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories was the second top earner for the month with sales amounting to $232.31 million, an increase of 7.4 percent over $216.22 million in 1997.

       The third biggest export group, Input/Output/Peripheral Units, turned in $148.94 million, which was 9.1 percent higher than $136.58 million a year ago.

       Revenue from Coconut Oil exports registered a 29.1 percent drop as shipments amounting to $58.76 million was down from $82.89 million during the same month in 1997.

       Earnings from Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis posted a 16.1 percent drop from the year-ago value of $33.40 million. Sales amounted to $28.02 million.

       Exports of Ignition Wiring Sets and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles moved to number six despite a 37.9 percent drop to $25.52 million from $41.09 million last year.

       Rounding up the list of the top exports for June 1998 were Metal Components, $24.15 million; Fresh Bananas, $16.17 million; Gold, $15.55 million; and Christmas Lights and Decor, $14.81 million.

       Aggregate payment for the top ten exports for the month amounted to $1.795 billion, or 75.1 percent of the total.

DOLLAR INFLOWS FROM MANUFACTURED GOODS GAIN 18.9 PERCENT

       Manufactured goods posted an 18.9 percent increase in sales, which reached $2,140.55 million from $1,800.17 million a year earlier. This major export group accounted for 89.6 percent of total receipts.

       Income from Agro-Based Products and Other Agro-Based Products, accounting for 6.0. percent of the total, dropped by 25.7 percent to $144.08 million from $194.02 million last year.

       Other major commodity groups and their respective earnings were Special Transactions, $51.01 million; Mineral Products, $40.49 million; Petroleum Products, $11.62 million; and Forest Products, $1.54 million.

US EXPORTS 36.9 PERCENT OF TOTAL

       Exports to the United States amounted to $882.18 million, posting a 19.8 percent growth from $736.10 million a year earlier and accounting for 36.9 percent of the total.

       Japan, at second with a 14.5 percent share, reported purchases valued at $345.65 million. Shipments fell by 12.9 percent from $396.68 million in 1997.

       The third biggest market for the month was Netherlands, which bought $178.37 million worth of local goods.

       Other major markets for June 1998 were: United Kingdom of Great Britain, $154.34 million; Singapore, $151.04 million; Taiwan, $129.75 million; Hongkong, $104.51 million; Germany, $68.05 million; Malaysia, $63.23 million; and Republic of Korea, $54.91 million.

       Total earnings from the top ten markets amounted to $2,132.03 million or 89.2 percent of the total.