Philippines’ Total External Trade Up By 12.3 Percent In Oct

MANILA, Dec 13 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines’ total external trade in goods, rose by 12.3 percent in Oct, to 18.70 billion U.S. dollars, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), said today.

Of the total external trade in Oct this year, the agency said, 58.8 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods. The balance of trade in goods amounted to minus 3.31 billion dollars, indicating a trade deficit with an annual increase of 13.5 percent.

According to the agency, China was the Philippines’ biggest supplier of imported goods, and also contributed the fourth-highest export value to the Philippines in Oct.

In Sept, the annual increase was slower at 11.5 percent, and the trade deficit recorded an annual increase of 27.1 percent.