Exports grew in July, NSO says

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s exports grew in July from a year ago, driven by the recovery of global demand for electronics.

July marked the second straight month of exports growth following contraction for the most part of the first semester.

The National Statistics Office yesterday reported that merchandise exports during the month were valued at $4.84 billion, up by 2.3 percent from $4.73 billion in the same month last year.

This was led by electronics, exports of which amounted to $1.89 billion, up year on year by 11.2 percent from $1.7 billion.

The demand for electronics improved amid observations that global economic conditions were improving following implementation of stimulus measures in various territories.

Sales of goods to foreign markets brought the Philippines’ cumulative exports for January to July to $30.42 billion, still down by 3.4 percent from $31.49 billion in the same period last year.

The government, therefore, is considering revising its exports growth target for the year.

The government was originally looking at a growth this year of 10 percent, which may have become ambitious following the contraction in the first semester.

“We see sustained recovery of exports throughout the second semester, but we [government’s economic team] may still have to review the target,” Balisacan told reporters on Tuesday.

Besides electronics, other top exports for the month were: machinery and transport equipment, up 132 percent year on year to $516.46 million; woodcrafts and furniture, up 44 percent to $255.08 million; and chemicals, up 23 percent to $165.37 million.

The biggest foreign market was Japan, which accounted for $956.44 million of total exports for the month, up year on year by 24 percent from $770.08 million.

China followed, accounting for $640.4 million of the total, up year on year by 28 percent from $501.34 million.

The United States came in third, accounting for $610.84 million of the total, down year on year by 8.7 percent from $668.69 million.

Meantime, the NSO also reported that manufacturing output grew by 12.1 percent in July from a year ago.

The annual rate of increase was faster than the 8.2 percent registered in June and the 3.8 percent recorded in July last year.

The growth in manufacturing output was boosted both by the increase in global demand for Philippine goods and by growing domestic demand.