MANILA – The Philippine Statistics Authority has recorded positive growth in the country’s total agricultural trade in the first quarter of 2021.
The total agriculture trade for the months of January to March amounted to $4.92 billion, an increase of 5.5 percent at an annual rate.
In contrast, trade in the fourth quarter of 2020 recorded an annual decline of -89.5 percent, while in the first quarter of 2020, trade decreased by -89.3 percent.
During the first quarter of 2021, agricultural exports and imports were recorded at $1.55 billion (31.5 percent), and $3.37 billion (68.5 percent), respectively.
The Department of Agriculture hopes these figures will be reflected for the rest of the year as the country builds its defenses against coronavirus disease 2019 and moves through the challenges that come along with the pandemic.
The country’s agricultural exports to Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries in the first quarter of 2021 amounted to $201.51 million, which accounted for almost seven percent of the total exports to the region.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ exports of agricultural goods to European Union (EU) member countries in the first quarter of 2021 amounted to $298.27 million, which comprised 14.2 percent of the country’s total exports to EU member countries.(PNA)
