A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade declined

The total quantity of domestic trade in the third quarter of 2022 was registered at 4.12 million tons. This represents an annual decrease of -25.5 percent from the 5.23 million tons recorded in the same quarter of 2021. In the second quarter of 2022, the annual decrement was -17.8 percent and in the third quarter of 2021, the annual increase was recorded at 44.9 percent. 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. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in the third quarter of 2022 with 0.91 million tons or a share of 22.0 percent to the total domestic trade. This was followed by food and live animals with 0.79 million tons (19.3%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material with 0.67 million tons (16.4%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

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

By region, Central Visayas (Region VII) registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 1.16 million tons or 28.1 percent share to the total domestic trade in the third quarter of 2022. This was followed by Central Luzon (Region III) with a quantity of 0.93 million tons (22.6%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with 0.51 million tons (12.5%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1. Value of domestic trade dropped

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 third quarter of 2022 amounted to PhP 181.46 billion. This indicates a decrease of -6.0 percent from the PhP 193.12 billion value of domestic trade in the same period of 2021.

By mode of transport, almost all (99.98%) of the commodities that flowed within the country were traded through water, 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 50.83 billion or 28.0 percent share to the total domestic trade value. This was followed by manufactured goods classified chiefly by material valued at PhP 42.39 billion (23.4%) and food and live animals which amounted to PhP 35.74 billion (19.7%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. Central Visayas recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among the regions, Central Visayas (Region VII) topped with PhP 45.91 billion value of traded commodities or 25.3 percent of the total value of traded commodities in the third quarter of 2022.  Northern Mindanao (Region X) came next with traded commodities amounting to PhP 40.49 billion (22.3%), followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 36.95 billion (20.4%). (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 38.74 billion or 21.3 percent share to the total in the third quarter of 2022. This was followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with an inflow value of PhP 31.86 billion (17.6%) and Caraga (Region XIII) with PhP 27.44 billion (15.1%). On the other hand, Ilocos Region (Region I) had the lowest inflow value which amounted to PhP 411.29 million. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5. Northern Mindanao registered 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 the third quarter of 2022 were the following:

   a. Northern Mindanao (Region X), PhP 30.29 billion;
   b. MIMAROPA Region, PhP 12.48 billion; and
   c. Central Luzon (Region III), PhP 7.94 billion.

On the other hand, top three regions with unfavorable (negative) domestic trade balances in the third quarter of 2022 were the following:

   a. Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -23.69 billion;
   b. CALABARZON (Region IV-A), PhP -17.44 billion; and
   c. National Capital Region (NCR), PhP -15.32 billion.  (Figure 8 and Table 3)

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

Quarterly Special Releases on domestic trade statistics are published two months after the reference quarter at the PSA website (www.psa.gov.ph) and at the OpenSTAT (openstat.psa.gov.ph).

All documents received after the cut-off date are included in the generation of the revised results.  The revised data of the previous quarter are reported during the release of the preliminary report of the next quarter. Revisions are made for the previous quarters until the annual report is released four months after the reference year.

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.