EXPORTS made by Davao Region for the first quarter of 2017 increased by 67.6 percent to $363.56 million in the first quarter of this year from $216.92 million in the same period last year.
According to the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Davao Region, fresh or dried bananas, including plaintains (fresh or dried) remain to be the top export commodity of the region amounting to $104.08 million, an 8.63 percent decrease from $113.91 million in the same period last year.
In a separate interview with Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) president Stephen Antig, he said the banana industry in the region is still in its recovery stages after being affected by the El Niño phenomenon last year. One of the factors also, according to Antig, is the ongoing infestation of the Panama disease. He also said rehabilitations for banana plantations are already ongoing.
Coming second in the list is the coconut (copra) crude oil which has a total export value of $94.81 million, 1,110 percent increase from $7.83 million last year.
Fresh or dried pineapples come in third with an export value of $28.99 million, a 7.22 percent decrease from $31.25 million last year.
Also included in the top ten export commodities of Davao Region are gold in semi-manufactured forms ($22.62 million), natural rubber in other forms ($20.18 million), other fruits (lychees, longans, jackfruit, mango, etc.) ($17.11 million), activated carbon of coconut shell based ($11.68 million), desiccated coconut ($8.05 million), coconut oil and its fractions, refined (cochin) or fraction of refined oil ($7.59 million), and natural rubber, technically specified natural rubber (TSNR) ($6.05 million).
Products exported to the Netherlands have the highest value recorded at $73.37 million followed by Japan at $59.54 million and China at $37.30 million.
Also among Davao Region's top export markets are Malaysia, South Korea, United States, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, and United Arab Emirates.