A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade increased

The total quantity of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023 was registered at 5.34 million tons. This represents an annual increase of 56.7 percent from the 3.41 million tons recorded quantity of domestic trade in the same quarter of 2022. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the annual increment was reported at 9.1 percent, while the first quarter of 2022 recorded an annual decline of -45.4 percent. Almost all (99.9%) of the commodities were traded through water (coastwise), while the rest were traded through air for this quarter of 2023. (Figure 1 and Table A)

2. Food and live animals topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, food and live animals led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023 with 1.31 million tons or a share of 24.6 percent to the total domestic trade. This was followed by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with 1.25 million tons (23.3%) and machinery and transport equipment with 1.04 million tons (19.6%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

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

By region, Central Luzon (Region III) registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 1.29 million tons or 24.1 percent share to the total domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023. This was followed by Central Visayas (Region VII) with a quantity of 1.00 million tons (18.7%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with 0.66 million tons (12.4%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1. Value of domestic trade grew

Domestic trade value refers to the outflow value of commodities transported from the region/province of origin to another region/province of destination.

The total value of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to PhP 199.72 billion. This indicates an increment of 46.7 percent from the PhP 136.18 billion value of domestic trade in the same period of 2022.

By mode of transport, almost all (99.96%) of the commodities that flowed within the country in the first quarter of 2023 were traded through water (coastwise), while the remaining were traded 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 68.24 billion or 34.2 percent share to the total domestic trade value in the first quarter of 2023. This was followed by food and live animals valued at PhP 51.10 billion (25.6%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material, which amounted to PhP 28.77 billion value of traded commodities (14.4%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. Western Visayas recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, Western Visayas (Region VI) topped with PhP 44.70 billion value of traded commodities or 22.4 percent of the total value of traded commodities in the first quarter of 2023. Central Visayas (Region VII) came next with traded commodities amounting to PhP 42.90 billion (21.5%), followed by Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) with PhP 26.01 billion worth of traded commodities (13.0%). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4. Central Visayas led in terms of inflow value

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

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade at PhP 44.33 billion or 22.2 percent share to the total inflow of domestic trade in the first quarter of 2023. This was followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with an inflow value of PhP 34.34 billion (17.2%) and Caraga (Region XIII) with PhP 33.35 billion (16.7%). On the other hand, Ilocos Region (Region I) recorded the lowest inflow value, which amounted to PhP 0.44 billion (0.2%) during the first quarter of 2023. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5. Central Luzon registered the highest trade balance

Trade balance is the difference between the outflow value and inflow value. A positive value indicates a favorable trade balance, while a negative value indicates an unfavorable trade balance.

The top three regions with favorable (positive) domestic trade balances in the first quarter of 2023 were the following:

a. Central Luzon (Region III), PhP 11.25 billion;
b. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), PhP 10.65 billion; and
c. Western Visayas (Region VI), PhP 10.35 billion.

On the other hand, the top three regions with unfavorable (negative) domestic trade balances in the first quarter of 2023 were the following:

a. Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -26.48 billion;
b. CALABARZON (Region IV-A), PhP -12.90 billion; and
c. Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), PhP -7.04 billion. (Figure 8 and Table 3)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD
(Assistant National Statistician)
Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office