Quantity and Value of domestic trade rises

The total quantity of domestic trade during the first quarter of 2018 was posted at 5.11 million tons, up by 5.4 percent from its level of 4.85 million tons in the same quarter of 2017. Food and live animals commodities were the highest in terms of quantity with 1.36 million tons or 26.5 percent share to total quantity of domestic trade. Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes commodities had the least quantity with only 0.02 million tons. (Figure 1)

Similarly, value of domestic trade amounting to PHP174.88 billion went up by 6.14 percent in the first quarter of 2018 from PHP164.77 billion in the first quarter of 2017. (Figure 2)

   Of the total quantity and value of domestic trade for the first quarter of 2018, nearly all were traded by means of water while the remaining were traded through air.

Machinery and Transport equipment commodities account for 31.8 percent of total value of traded commodities

Machinery and transport equipment remained the top commodity section during the first quarter of 2018 with a value amounting to PHP55.62 billion or 31.8 percent of the total value of domestic trade. This commodity section shared 34.6 percent share of the total traded commodities in the first quarter of 2017. Food and live animals posting a value of PHP41.38 billion and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material with a value amounting to PHP24.77 billion, placed second and third, respectively. Completing the top ten commodity sections, in terms of value for the first quarter of 2018 were the following:

• Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, PHP15.38 billion;
• Miscellaneous manufactured articles, PHP10.66 billion;
• Chemical and related products n.e.c., PHP9.18 billion;
• Beverages and Tobacco, PHP7.72 billion
• Crude materials, inedible except fuels, PHP4.63 billion;
• Commodities and transactions n.e.c., PHP4.36 billion; and
• Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes, PHP1.14 billion.

Central Visayas shares 23.5 percent of the total quantity of traded commodities

Among the regions, Central Visayas posted the highest quantity of traded commodities with 1.20 million tons during the first quarter of 2018.  It was followed by Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao with 1.01 million tons and 0.79 million tons, respectively. Other regions recorded the following quantities were:

• Western Visayas, 0.58 million tons;
• NCR, 0.53 million tons;
• Eastern Visayas, 0.27 million tons;
• Davao Region, 0.17 million tons;
• Bicol Region, 0.12 million tons;
• SOCCSKSARGEN, 0.11 million tons;
• CALABARZON, 0.08 million tons;
• Zamboanga Peninsula, 0.08 million tons;
• Caraga, 0.07 million tons;
• ARMM, 0.05 million tons; and
• MIMAROPA, 0.02 million tons.

Outflow and Inflow value of traded commodities expand in the first quarter of 2018

Outflow refers to the total value of commodities which goes out of the specified region or province while Inflow refers to the total value of commodities coming in the specified region. Trade balance is the difference between the outflow and inflow.

Total outflow and inflow value in the first quarter of 2018 totaled to PHP174.88 billion. This translates to an increase of 6.1 percent from PHP164.77 billion recorded in the same quarter of 2017. Among the regions, NCR exhibited the highest outflow value amounting to       PHP37.62 billion or 21.5 percent from the total outflow. It was followed by Central Visayas and Western Visayas with PHP35.15 billion and PHP30.40 billion, respectively.

In terms of inflow value, Central Visayas had the highest value amounting to PHP30.93 billion or 17.7 percent share to the total inflow in the first quarter of 2018. Cagayan Valley posted the lowest inflow value amounting to PHP3.69 million.

                 

Eastern Visayas leads favorable trade balance

Nine regions (9) posted positive trade balances in the first quarter of 2018. Eastern Visayas ranked first with trade balance of PHP16.55 billion. It was followed by NCR with trade balance amounting to PHP12.60 billion. Other regions that recorded a positive trade balance were the following:

• Central Luzon, PHP8.68 billion;
• Central Visayas; PHP4.25 billion;
• ARMM; PHP1.48 billion;
• Western Visayas; PHP1.31 billion;
• SOCCSKSARGEN; PHP1.20 billion;
• Davao Region, PHP616.30 million; and
• Bicol Region, PHP207.65 million.

 On the other hand, seven regions (7) with unfavorable (negative) trade balance during the first quarter of 2018 were the following:

• Caraga, PHP25.43 billion;
• Northern Mindanao, PHP7.47 billion;
• Zamboanga Peninsula, PHP6.17 billion;
• CALABARZON, PHP4.19 billion;
• MIMAROPA, PHP3.26 billion;
• Ilocos Region, PHP369.06 million; and
• Cagayan Valley, PHP3.68 million.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Introduction

Commodity flow or domestic trade statistics is a compilation of data on commodities carried through the air, rail, and water transport systems in the country. 

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) compiles domestic trade statistics from copies of coasting manifests and coastwise passenger manifest collected from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and copies of airway bills from Philippine Airlines to generate Commodity Flow or Domestic Trade Statistics. Coasting manifests were collected from major ports and other active seaports listed by the PPA all over the country to account for transactions that went through seaports. 

Data on the inflow and outflow of commodities in the different regions of the country are used to construct inter-regional and inter-industry relation tables.

All copy of documents are compiled and processed by the provincial statistical offices.  Final data review of the data files, generation of statistical tables, and preparation of Special Releases are done at the Trade Statistics Division (TSD).

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

All documents received as of 07 June 2018 were processed and included in the generation of 2018 First Quarterly statistical tables. Documents received after the deadline will be included in the final tabulation.

DOMSTAT reports from the National Capital Region (NCR) with the following details were not yet as of 07 June 2018 and thus, are not included in this Special Release:

Detailed data on domestic trade statistics are available at the Trade Statistics Division (TSD) - Economic Sector Statistics Service (ESSS) with telephone number: 376-19-75.

Limitations of Domestic Trade Statistics

The domestic trade statistics contained in this report pertains to the flow of goods through airports and seaports in the country, whether for government or private use, or for commercial purposes. Domestic trade through land was excluded because of an absence of an approach to data in the archipelagic island of the country. Moreover, starting 2007, data on rail transport is also excluded.

Air waybills, on the other hand, were collected only from the Philippine Airlines (PAL) accounting for transactions that passes through all airports.

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

          a. Goods transported by vessels of the Philippine Navy.

          b. Fish and other marine products landed directly from the sea.

          c. Service cargoes for consumption of the vessel crew.

          d. Cadaver