A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade increased

The total quantity of domestic trade in 2021 was recorded at 20.22 million tons. This represents an annual increment of 24.6 percent, from a -37.3 percent annual decrease in 2020. Almost all (99.9%) of the commodities were traded through water (coastwise), while the rest were traded through air. (Figure 1 and Table A)

2. Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, manufactured goods classified chiefly by material led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in 2021 with 5.54 million tons or a share of 27.4 percent to the total. This was followed by food and live animals with 4.68 million tons (23.1%) and commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified with 3.05 million tons (15.1%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

3. Central Visayas led in terms of quantity of traded commodities

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) recorded the highest quantity of traded commodities with 7.06 million tons or 34.9 percent share to the total in 2021. This was followed by National Capital Region (NCR) with a quantity of 3.22 million tons (15.9%) and Bicol Region (Region V) with 2.18 million tons (10.8%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1. Value of domestic trade grew

Domestic trade value is the outflow value which refers to the value of commodities that goes out from a specified region/province to another region/province.

The total value of domestic trade in 2021 amounted to PhP 718.44 billion. This indicates an expansion of 21.6 percent from the PhP 590.66 billion value of domestic trade in 2020.

By mode of transport, the total value of traded commodities through water accounted for almost all (99.9%) of the total commodities that flowed within the country, while the remaining were 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 200.55 billion or 27.9 percent share to the total. This was followed by food and live animals valued at PhP 171.36 billion (23.9%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material which amounted to PhP 160.23 billion (22.3%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. NCR recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, NCR ranked first with a total value of traded commodities of PhP 198.17 billion or 27.6 percent share to the total in 2021. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) came next with traded commodities amounting to PhP 119.76 billion (16.7%), followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 117.53 billion (16.4%). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4. Central Visayas led in terms of inflow value

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

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade of PhP 135.54 billion or 18.9 percent share to the total in 2021. This was followed by Caraga (Region XIII) with inflow value of PhP 133.82 billion (18.6%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 113.64 billion (15.8%). On the other hand, Cagayan Valley (Region II) had the lowest inflow value which amounted to PhP 5.80 million. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5. NCR recorded the highest trade balance

The trade balance is the difference between the outflow value and inflow value.

The top three regions with favorable (positive) domestic trade balances in 2021 were the following:

a. NCR, PhP 130.32 billion;
b. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), PhP 61.71 billion; and
c. Northern Mindanao (Region X), PhP 37.62 billion.

On the other hand, the top three regions with unfavorable (negative) domestic trade balances in 2021 were the following:

a. Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -115.16 billion;
b. Central Visayas (Region VII), PhP -37.60 billion; and
c. Davao Region (Region XI), PhP -30.23 billion. (Figure 8 and Table 3)

6. Total number of passengers dropped

The total number of outbound passengers in 2021 was registered at 5.19 million, which were all transported via water (coastwise). This indicates a contraction of -28.6 percent from the 7.28 million passengers in 2020.

Bicol Region (Region V) recorded the highest number of passengers in 2021 with 1.22 million. This was followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with 1.02 million passengers, and Central Visayas (Region VII) with 0.92 million passengers. (Figure 9 and Table 4)

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Overview

Commodity flow or domestic trade statistics is a compilation of data on commodities carried through air, rail, and water transport systems within a given country. However, in the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) compiles domestic trade carried through air and water only.

Data on the inflow and outflow of commodities in the different regions of the country are used to construct inter-regional and inter-industry relational tables. These serve as bases in the formulation and implementation of various regional development programs like countryside development and port planning.

The 1993 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC), Revision 2 is used to classify the commodities at the 5-digit level (item) for coastwise statistics and 3-digit level (group) for air statistics.

Scope and Coverage

Domestic trade statistics contained in this report pertain to the flow of goods through airports and seaports in the country, whether for government or private use, or commercial purposes. It covers air trade and coastwise trade.

Goods and/or commodities that are excluded in the compilation of domestic data are the following:

a. Goods transported by vessels of the Philippine Navy;
b. Fish and other marine products unloaded in fishing ports;
c. Fish and other marine products landed directly from the sea; and
d. Logistic goods intended for the vessel and the crew.

Sources of Data

The source documents for the coastwise trade statistics are the coasting manifests and coastwise passenger manifests from major ports and other active seaports listed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) all over the country. Air waybills, on the other hand, is the source document for air trade statistics issued by Philippine Airlines to every consignee.

Processing

All copies of documents are compiled and processed by the Provincial Statistical Offices (PSO) of PSA. The PSO submits monthly data files to the Central Office (CO) not later than one month after the reference month.

Final data review of the data files, generation of statistical tables, and preparation of Special Releases are done at the CO, particularly in the Trade Statistics Division (TSD) of the Economic Sector Statistics Service.

Dissemination and Revision

Annual Special Release on domestic trade statistics is published four months after the reference year at the PSA website (www.psa.gov.ph).

All documents received within the year 2021, including those documents received from January 2022 to March 2022 with reference year 2021, are included in the generation of the annual results.

Data requests on domestic trade statistics are available at TSD with telephone number (02) 8376-19-75 and email address tsd.staff@psa.gov.ph.