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

AUGUST 2009 MERCHANDISE EXPORTS POSTED  21.0 PERCENT DECLINE

Export earnings in August 2009 dropped by 21.0 percent to $3.472 billion from $4.395 billion reported in August 2008.  Compared to previous months level, however, it grew by 4.9 percent from $3.311 billion in July 2009.  Aggregate merchandise exports from January to August 2009, on the other hand, declined by 30.3 percent to $24.004 billion from $34.454 billion registered during the same eight-month period in 2008.

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS PLUMMETED BY 18.7 PERCENT

Accounting for 59.3 percent of the total export revenue in August 2009, Electronic Productsamounted to $2.058 billion. It was lower by 18.7 percent from $2.531 billion recorded in August 2008.  The decline can be attributed to the 24.8 percent  annual decrease in the Components/Devices (Semiconductors) which comprised 41.3 percent of the total exports and the biggest share among the major groups of electronic products.   However, month-on-month, it increased by 7.5 percent from $1.915 billion in July 2009.

Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories representing 4.0 percent share of total exports in August 2009 emerged as RPs second top earner with revenue valued at $137.58 million or a negative growth of 20.3 percent over last years figure of $172.51 million.   

Woodcrafts and Furniture followed as the third top earner in August 2009 with total export earnings of $94.26 million or a share of 2.7 percent to the total export receipts.  It  fell by 7.3 percent from $101.73 million in August 2008.

Ranked fourth in August 2009 and contributing 2.1 percent to the total export receipts was Ignition 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 $73.29 million. This value increased by 8.3 percent from its year ago level of  $67.65 million.

Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis with 1.7 percent share to the total export receipts ranked fifth with value posted at $60.29 million or 10.6 percent increase from  $54.52 million in August 2008.

Rounding up the list of the top ten exports for the month of August 2009 were Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes, of Refined Copper with export receipts amounting to $47.84 million exhibited the highest negative annual growth of 64.7 percent for August 2009 from among the top ten exports in August 2009; Coconut Oil (including crude and refined) with export earnings of $46.97 million contracted by 10.6 percent; Metal Components (excluding brakes and servo - brakes) with proceeds billed at $46.59 million; Pineapple and Pineapple Products  with sales amounting to $28.48 million accelerated by 32.2 percent and shows the highest positive  year-on-year growth among the top ten exports in August 2009; and Tuna (includes fresh, frozen, prepared or preserved in airtight containers) with export revenue of $26.52 million declined by  32.2 percent from its August 2008 level. 

Total receipts from the top ten exports reached $2.620 billion, or 75.5 percent of the total exports.

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

EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURED GOODS STOOD AT $3.052 BILLION

Accounting for 87.9 percent of the total receipts, outward shipments of Manufactured Goods in August 2009 reached $3.052 billion or a 16.5 percent decrease from $3.655 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier. On the other hand,  it went up by 8.4 percent from $2.816 billion compared to July 2009.  

Income from Total Agro-Based Products comprising 4.9 percent of the total exports revenue in August 2009 plunged by 19.3 percent to $170.21 million from $210.85 million in August 2008.

Earnings from Mineral Products with a share of 3.4 percent in August 2009 reached $118.47 million, reflecting a 52.4 percent decline from $248.94 million in August 2008.  However, export receipts fromSpecial Transactions with a share of 3.5 percent went up by 9.0 percent to $120.26 million from $110.31 million in August 2008

Exports revenue of Petroleum Products with 0.2 percent share of the total exports dropped by 96.1 percent to $6.59 million from $167.81 million recorded in August 2008. However,  Forest Productswith 0.1 percent share of the total exports in August 2009 expanded by 140.3 percent to $4.50 million from $1.87 million posted in August 2008.

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

EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES ACCOUNTED FOR 18.1 PERCENT

United States of America (USA) including Alaska and Hawaii, comprising 18.1 percent of the total exports for August 2009 emerged as the countrys top destination of exports for August 2009 with revenue amounting to $628.02 million. It was lower by 3.9 percent from $653.31 million recorded a year earlier.

Japan including Okinawa, followed as the second top market of the country for August 2009 with export earnings of $553.35 million or 15.9 percent share of the total exports. The amount  declined by 21.8 percent from $707.87 million reported in August 2008.

Netherlands came in third with shipments amounting to $361.35 million and representing 10.4 percent of the total exports. The amount  went up by 12.7 percent  from its year ago level of $320.59 million.

Hong Kong ranked fourth in August 2009 with $291.03 million or 8.4 percent of the total exports decreased by 38.4 percent from $472.77 million recorded in August 2008.

Fifth in rank and accounting for 7.3 percent share from the total exports was Singapore with revenue amounting to $254.20 million or a year-on-year decrease of 4.0 percent from $264.80 million.

Other top ten markets for August 2009 were Peoples Republic of China, $238.60 million;Germany, $199.59 million; Republic of Korea, $180.27 million; Thailand, $120.01 million; andMalaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak), $113.97 million.

Total export receipts from RPs top ten markets for the month of August 2009 amounted to $2.940 billion or 84.7 percent of the total.

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

EXPORTS  FROM EASTERN ASIA  WORTH $1.373 BILLION

Philippines total exports in August 2009 with Eastern Asia which includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan accounted for 39.6 percent of the countys total exports; amounting to $1.373 billion or a negative annual growth of 33.7 percent  from August 2008 level of $2.070 billion.

Exports to European Union (EU) in August 2009 representing 20.8 percent share to the total exports in August 2009 slightly increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year to $721.72 million from $678.95 million in August 2008.

August 2009 total exports to ASEAN member-countries with 16.3 percent share decreased by 19.3 percent to $566.95 million from $702.15 million in August 2008.

Fig. 4  Philippine Exports by Selected Economic Bloc in August: 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