SUMMARY REPORT OF THE MERCHANDISE EXPORT PERFORMANCE FOR APRIL 1998
(Preliminary)

FOUR-MONTH EXPORTS POST 19.9 PERCENT GROWTH

Revenue from merchandise exports for the first four months of 1998 remained on the upswing by posting a 19.9 percent growth to $9.101 billion from $7.588 billion last year.

For April 1998, aggregate receipts grew by 9.8 percent to $2.285 billion from $2.082 billion last year, which was an increase of $202.10 million.

SHIPMENTS OF ELECTRONICS UP BY 31.7 PERCENT

Shipments of Electronics and Components, accounting for 53.0 percent of aggregate receipts, grew by 31.7 percent to $1.212 billion from $919.90 million last year.

Income from exports of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories, the second top earner for the month, dipped by 4.3 percent to $154.06 million from $160.97 million.

Input/Output/Peripheral Units, maintaining its hold of third spot, brought in $151.53 million which was 13.5 percent higher than $133.52 million a year ago.

Revenue from Coconut Oil exports registered a gain of 42.9 percent as shipments amounted to $65.54 million, up from $45.87 million last year.

Earnings from Woodcraft and Furniture went up to number five despite an 11.7 percent decline. Sales amounted to $33.31 million, which was $4.40 million lower than $37.71 million in 1997.

Rounding up the list of the top ten dollar earners for April 1998 were Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, $30.21 million; Ignition Wiring Sets and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircrafts and Ships, $27.13 million; Metal Components, $25.73 million; Gold, $21.92 million; and Fresh Bananas, $18.70 million.

Total receipts from the top ten exports amounted to $1.74 billion which was 76.2 percent of the total for the month.

MANUFACTURED GOODS ACCOUNT FOR 88.0 PERCENT

Accounting for 88.0 percent of the aggregate, Manufactured Goods posted a 16.4 percent rise in revenue as sales amounted to $2,009.90 million, up from $1,726.32 million a year earlier.

Agro-Based Products made up the next biggest commodity group representing 5.7 percent of the aggregate value. Receipts reached $129.48 million, up by 8.0 percent from $119.90 million last year.

Other major commodity groups and their respective shares were Special Transactions, $48.14 million; Mineral Products, $46.50 million; Other Agro-Based Products, $38.27 million; Petroleum Products, $10.44 million; and Forest Products, $1.41 million.

US ACCOUNTS FOR 34.2 PERCENT OF EXPORTS

Exports to the United States, accounting for 34.2 percent of the total, posted a 10.3 percent increase reaching $780.70 million from $708.07 million a year earlier.

Japan purchased some $323.58 million worth of goods, which was 0.7 percent lower from $325.99 million last year. Its share was pegged at 14.2 percent.

The Netherlands bought $219.76 million worth of local merchandise, which was a 53.4 percent increase over $143.25 million last year.

Singapore and the United Kingdom of Great Britain emerged as the fourth and fifth biggest markets respectively. Sales to Singapore were valued at $139.06 million while those to the United Kingdom of Great Britain amounted to $135.99 million.

Other top markets were Taiwan, $123.21 million; Hong Kong, $113.39 million; Germany, $81.39 million; Malaysia, $73.46 million; and Thailand, $47.59 million.

Aggregate value of exports to the top ten markets amounted to $2,038.13 million which was 89.2 percent of the total.