PHL imports up 10% to $4.926B in Aug.

Philippine imports rose by double digits in August, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported on Tuesday. Despite a 15.2-percent decrease in imports of electronic products — the country's leading imports — Philippine import bills jumped 10.4 percent to $4.926 billion, the NSO said in its latest report. Compared to July’s import bills, however, August imports were down by 1.5 percent, NSO data showed In the eight months to August, imports amounted to $40.426 billion, up 13.8-percent from $35.526 billion a year earlier, bringing the January-August trade gap to $804 million. Other top imports were mineral fuels, lubricants, transport equipment, industrial machinery and equipment, and plastics. Japan was the Philippines' main source of products, accounting for 11.8 percent, followed by China and the US. Other sources of Philippine imports were Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. — CMA/VS, GMA News