RP exports up 23.1%

RP exports up 23.1%

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines merchandise exports rose 23.1 percent from a year earlier to US$20.687 billion in the 10 months to October, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

October exports rose 23.4 percent from a year earlier, but fell 0.6 percent on the previous month, to $2.324 billion.

The bulk of October exports, representing a 46.7 percent share, were in electronics. Electronics exports rose 39.1 percent from a year earlier to $1.086 billion.

Garments exports fell nearly 11 percent to $167.35 million, making up 7.2 percent of the total for the month.

Import figures for the period have not been released.