Ecozone exports jump 17.2% to $3B in January

Exports by companies operating in economic zones increased 17.21 percent in January as more businesses set up shop in information technology (IT) parks and buildings.

In a report, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said January exports reached $3.029 billion from $2.584 billion during the same month a year ago.

A total of 16 new locators were added in the IT parks or buildings while three were added in the private ecozones during the period in review.

Due to the new additions in the IT parks and buildings, it recorded the biggest jump in exports when compared to the other two classifications — private ecozones and public ecozones.

Exports from IT parks/buildings went up 121.25 percent to $127.36 million from $57.57 million while private ecozone exports grew by 18.9 percent.

Meanwhile the four public ecozones — Baguio Export Processing Zone; Bataan Export Processing Zone; Cavite Export Processing and Mactan Export Processing Zone — had the smallest improvement in exports at 0.944 percent to $576.24 million from $570.85 million.

The Cavite-based computer chip giant Intel Technology Philippines remained the country’s top exporter, followed by the Baguio-based electronics firm Texas Instruments. The two branches of semiconductor firm Amkor Technology Philippines placed third and fourth while rounding up the top five exporter list is copper smelter Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (Pasar).