THE country's trade deficit narrowed in March as a decline in imports markedly outpaced that for exports, preliminary Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed on Wednesday. Total trade in goods contracted by 15.4 percent to $15.44 billion during the month from $18.24 billion a year earlier, with imports totaling $9.31 billion and exports $6.13 billion. Imports plunged by 20.0 percent, reversing from February's 6.5-percent growth and also markedly faster than the year-earlier 1.2-percent drop. Exports went down by 7.3 percent, also a turnabout from the previous month's 15.7-percent growth but slightly improving from March 2023's 9.5-percent decline. Imports comprised 60.3 percent of total external trade in March, and exports accounted for the rest.   https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/05/09/business/top-business/trade-deficit-narrows-to-318b/1945335 (ICE SINGAPORE)

Fonte notizia: The Business Times, 9 May 2024