Domestic trade rises 13.6% in Q4

MANILA, Philippines - The value of commodities traded within the country rose by more than a tenth in the fourth quarter from the previous year, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.

According to the preliminary results of the NSO’s Commodity Flow in the Philippines report, the total value of domestic trade went up to P141.76 billion in the October to December period, 13.6 percent higher than the P124.84 billion in the comparable period in 2011.

“Trade transaction through water was the principal mode of transport comprising 99.4 percent and 99.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 2012 respectively,” the NSO said.

While the value of domestic trade transactions posted an increase, it declined in terms of volume.

The total quantity of domestic trade transactions decreased 8.6 percent to 5.04 million tons in the fourth quarter from 5.52 million tons in the same period in 2011.

Domestic trade refers to the flow of commodities within the country through its water, air and rail transport systems.

Data on commodities traded within the country is used as basis in the formulation and implementation of programs like countryside development and port planning.

Having the largest share among the commodities traded within the country for the period were food and live animals, which amounted to P44.19 billion or 31.2 percent.

Machinery and transport equipment had the second biggest share at 18.5 percent, valued at P26.26 billion, followed by manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials which had a 12.9 percent share worth P18.35 billion.

By region, the NSO said most of the traded commodities for the period came from the National Capital Region (NCR) with the value of transactions amounting to P43.76 billion or 30.9 percent of the total.

Central Visayas was the second biggest source with its 18.2 percent share valued at P25.74 billion, followed by Western Visayas which had a 16.7 percent share amounting to P23.62 billion.

The NSO also said “the NCR posted the most favorable trade balance at P16.39 billion during the fourth quarter of 2012.”

Other regions which surpassed the billion positive trade balance for the period were Central Luzon at P12.33 billion and Western Visayas with P1.96 billion.