IMPORTS of Davao Region increased by 70.4 percent in 2014 to $1.69 billion as against $996.51 million in 2013, based on the data issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority in Davao Region.
Data showed that the volume of imports also increased by 83 percent to 3.06 million metric tons (MT) in 2014 as against 1.67 million MT in 2013.
Imports are mainly petroleum products, chemicals, and construction materials, and machineries, among others.
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals other than crude is the most imported commodity of the province at $312.34 million, which is nearly a 70 percent increase from $184.32 in 2013.
The main source for the commodity is Taiwan at $275.35 million, followed by Singapore ($34.67 million), Thailand ($1.95 million), Malaysia ($326,100), and South Korea ($32,380).
Placing second are nitrogenous mineral and chemical fertilizers at $106.41 million. China is the main source for the commodity at $64.05 million, followed by Japan ($10.15 million), Singapore ($7.59 million), Indonesia ($7.04 million), and Qatar ($6.01 million).
Coming in third are uncoated craft paper and paperboard at $92.06 million. The United States of America (USA) is the primary source for the commodity at $46.45 million, followed by New Zealand ($17.6 million), Australia ($9.72 million), Singapore ($5.97 million), Germany ($4.91 million).
Steam or other vapor generating boilers places fourth as the most imported commodity of the region at $55.43 million. The product is mainly imported from Taiwan at $50.38 million, followed by Malaysia ($1.59 million), China ($795,557), United Kingdom ($701,553), and Singapore ($700,216).
Rounding up the top five most imported products of the region are insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant growth regulators, disinfectants and other similar products at $54.52 million. The main source is Japan at $9.24 million, followed by South Korea ($8.12 million), India ($6.49 million), China ($5.68 million), and Germany ($4.57 million).
Also among the top ten imported commodities of Davao Region are: other uncoated paper and paperboard ($54 million); structures and parts of structure of iron and steel ($42.72 million); mineral or chemical fertilizers containing two or three of the fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium ($35.92 million); glazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles, glazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like ($35.8 million); and semi-finished products of iron or non-allow steel ($35.44 million).
In terms of source of imports, Taiwan tops the list at $437.74 million, followed by China ($345.99 million), USA ($114.98 million), Indonesia ($100.64 million), Japan ($96.81 million), Singapore ($80.19 million), Thailand ($63.82 million), Vietnam ($56.49 million), Malaysia ($51.85 million), and South Korea ($42.66 million).