Central Mindanao’s top export product, posted double-digit year-on-year growth last month, both in terms of volume and value, data obtained over the weekend showed. It si found that tuna products sold overseas rose to 8.3 million kilograms worth $22.7 million in January, from 7.2 kg worth $20.3 million in the same month last year.
According to the data sourced from the office here of the Bureau of Customs it is noted that the sales of tuna picked up in Philippines. Mariano M. Fernandez, president of the Tuna Canners’ Association of General Santos, had earlier said that while the sector suffered slower demand from the US orders from Europe and other regions have filled the gap.
Separate data from the office here of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) showed that for the full year 2008, canned tuna products remained the top exports of Central Mindanao, shipping out $288.7 million, compared with $179.3 million in 2007. Other major exports, however, recorded a contraction last year. Next to canned tuna last year was canned pineapple, whose sales plunged 86% to $90 million from $167.7 million in 2007.
The third place in export was acquired by crude coconut oil, which dropped 16.4 percent to $80.6 million from $96.5 million. Frozen round/processed tuna products were fourth, dipping 13 percent to $49.8 million from $57.8 million. Europe has dislodged the US as the number one market of goods from Central Mindanao.
