Ecozone exports up 5% in 1st 7 months

Exports from the country’s special economic zones grew by a modest five percent to P11.278 billion from January to July this year compared with last year’s level, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reported over the weekend.

Exports from the public ecozones amounted to P3.424 billion in the first seven months of the year, a 15 percent drop from P4.053 billion in the same period last year.

Private ecozones on the other hand continued to show a year-on-year increase as exports for the seven month period rose to P7.853 billion. The special ecozones continued to provide employment for more workers. For the period Jan. 1 to July 31, 2000, the SEZs hired only 672,850 workers. For the comparative period this year, the SEZs were able to provide work for 696,540 workers.

The Ayala-owned Laguna Technopark posted the highest exports of P2,283 billion, providing employment for 35,798 workers.

Shipments from the Laguna Technopark posted the highest exports of P2.283 billion, providing employment for 36,798 workers.

Shipments from the Laguna Technopark from Jan. 1 to July 31 this year showed a decline compared to its exports of P2.403 billion for the same period last year.

Posting the second highest exports of P1.214 billion was the Carmelray Industrial Park I which is owned by the Yulo family.

The PEZA has admitted that the global economic slowdown has been the main reason for the decline in export orders especially from the United States and Japan which are the Philippines’ major export markets.