MANILA, Philippines, May 8 (NNN-PNA) – China was the country’s largest supplier of imported goods with 21.4 percent of total imports in March this year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported today (Wednesday).
The PSA said, import payments from China and the top nine countries or regions amounted to 6.85 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 76.0 percent of total imports in March.
“Import bills from China reached 1.92 billion U.S. dollars, from 1.28 billion U.S. dollars in March, 2018,” the PSA said.
The PSA said, Japan ranked second in March, with an import value of 882.87 million U.S. dollars, or a share of 9.8 percent to total import. “This recorded a decrease of 3.8 percent from the March, 2018 value of 917.32 million U.S. dollars,” the PSA noted.
The United States ranked third in March, with a 7.9 percent share to the total import bills. “Its total import payments rose 12.2 percent, from 634.81 million U.S. dollars in March, 2018, to 712.43 million U.S. dollars in March, 2019.”
South Korea is fourth with an import value of 701.86 million U.S. dollars in March, 2019 or a share of 7.8 percent. PSA said, imports from South Korea dropped 16.3 percent, from 838.72 million U.S. dollars in March, 2018.
Thailand is ranked fifth with a value of 551.71 million U.S. dollars in March, 2019, or a share of 6.1 percent. Import bills from Thailand decreased 5.9 percent from 586.57 million U.S. dollars in March, 2018, it added.– NNN-PNA
