The Philippines’ domestic trade increased 7% during the first quarter of 2016 to 5.36 million tons from 5.01 million tons in the same quarter in 2015, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In its latest data, PSA said total value of commodities that flowed via air and sea within the country rose 6.7% to P175.45 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from P164.36 billion in the first quarter of 2015. The increase was a first after the continuous decline of domestic trade in 2015.
Domestic trade transactions through water accounted for about 99.8% of the total quantity of traded commodities, remaining as the major means of transportation of goods. The remaining 0.2% was carried via air.
Machinery and transport equipment accounted for the biggest share with P62.02 billion or 35.4% of the total domestic trade value. Food and live animals followed with P43.42 billion (24.7%), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with P20.06 billion (11.4%).
Regionally, Eastern Visayas reported the highest share of domestic trade at P35.63 billion or 20.3%. Western Visayas ranked second with P30.81 billion (17.6%), followed by National Capital Region (NCR) with P25.34 billion (14.4%), Central Visayas with P19.02 billion (10.8%), Northern Mindanao with P16.02 billion (9.1%), and Central Luzon with P13.36 billion (7.6%).
Among the regions, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) had the smallest share in value of domestic trade, registering P181.77 million or 0.1%.
Eastern Visayas posted the most favorable domestic trade balance with P24.84 billion while Caraga recorded the most unfavorable trade balance with P30.91 billion.
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