Philexport-Cebu expects export recovery in 2018

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc (Philexport)-Cebu is optimistic on the continued recovery of the export sector next year.

In an interview yesterday, Philexport-Cebu executive director Fred Escalona said he sees a growth of between 30-35 percent for Philippine exports next year.

"2018 will be a good year for the sector," Escalona said in an interview at the sidelines of the Usapang Exports forum in Cebu City yesterday.

The official said the export industry has experienced a good growth this year, projecting that the sector will close the year 2017 with a roughly 12 percent growth.

Escalona cited the increasing optimism in the global market as among the key factors that will drive the recovery of the export industry.

The Philexport official also said the strong dollar has also helped exporters earn more.

He expressed optimism the growth of the Philippine economy in general will be sustained, citing the export sector as one of the industries that will continue to grow.

The Philippine economy grew 6.9 percent in the third quarter this year, beating market expectations and emerging as one of the fastest in Asia.

Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority expressed support for regional cooperation initiatives that will reduce trade costs and further boost Philippine trade performance recorded in September 2017.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority released earlier, total merchandise trade grew by 2.8 percent year-on-year to US$13.1 billion in September 2017.

Exports recorded its tenth consecutive month of positive growth at 4.3 percent, while imports posted a modest growth of 1.7 percent.

“The third quarter growth performance of several major economies such as the Eurozone, US, and China, reflects an upbeat outlook for the global economy. Given this, we are optimistic that Philippine trade will pick up in the last quarter due to higher demand in the holiday season,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon earlier said.

For exports, the growth of the country’s shipments to EU (40 percent) and ASEAN (7.6 percent) boosted the total receipts for the period.

Also, higher sales for top export markets such as US (4.9 percent), Hong Kong (29 percent) Germany (4.6 percent), Netherlands (70.8 percent), and Thailand (7.1 percent) were recorded.

For imports, growth of shipments from South Korea (52.9), Indonesia (8.1 percent), Taiwan (6.5 percent), and Vietnam (40.0 percent) offset lower inward shipments from China (-7.3 percent), Japan (-8.1 percent), and US (-18.3 percent).

“We look forward to regional cooperation and integration being forwarded in APEC 2017 Vietnam and also in the upcoming 31st ASEAN meetings. We expect these initiatives to promote inter- and intra-regional trade and deepen engagement between regional blocs, as spelled out in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022,” the NEDA official said.

Edillon noted that the call being made in APEC to establish a free-trade area in the Asia-Pacific will enhance trade and investment flows in the region and deepen ties among APEC member economies.

In relation to ASEAN, she also said that the ASEAN Business Advisory Council has urged the fast tracking of non-tariff measures, non-tariff barriers, and the ASEAN Single Window initiative to further ease doing business in the region. (FREEMAN)