Philippine imports dipped 0.4% in August to $5.05 billion year-on-year, based on latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Month-on-month, the latest figure is higher by 1.9% from July’s $4.963 billion.
From January to September, imports also inched up 0.1% to $40.769 billion from $40.731 billion in the same period last year.
Accounting for 29.1% of the total import bill in August, payments for electronic products rose 5.7% to $1.473 billion and were the country’s top import commodity.
Next were mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with a 19.8% share or $1.003 billion, up 1.8% to from $984.90 last year.
Transport equipment accounted for 5.8% or $294.17 million of the total, down 3.4% from $304.46 million.
The US was the country’s biggest source of imports for August, accounting for 11.7% or $594.15 million of the aggregate, reflecting a 22.4% jump from $485.43 million.
China was the second top import source with a 10.8% share or $546.65 million, higher by 4.8% from $521.53 million.
Taiwan came in third, accounting for 10.2% or $513.52 million of the total, rising 66.9% from $307.66 million.