The value of commodity flow within the country increased by 20.8 percent to P130.90 billion in the third quarter of 2012, data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed.

The NSO noted that the value of commodity flow in the third quarter of 2012 was higher than the P108.38 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2011.

“Trade transaction through water was the major mode of transport comprising 99.3 percent and 99.6 percent in the third quarter of 2011 and 2012, respectively,” the agency stated.

Meanwhile, the data showed that the total quantity of domestic trade transactions in the third quarter of 2012 increased by 32.9 percent, resulting to 5.71 million tons from 4.30 million tons reported during the same period of 2011.

The commodities were traded mostly through water comprising 99.8 percent, the same percentage recorded in the third quarter of 2011.

It added that food and live animals contributed the largest share among the commodities that were transacted throughout the country in the third quarter of 2012, amounting to P39.16 billion.

This was followed by machinery and transport equipment with P20.93 billion, and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials with P20.16 billion.

Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes had the least value of P1.73 billion.

The Statistics data continued that most of the traded commodities came from National Capital Region (Metro Manila) with value of domestic trade transactions amounting to P34.51 billion.

Central Visayas (Region 7) was the second with P26.66 billion. Western Visayas (Region 6) was next with P17.11 billion, followed by Northern Mindanao (Region 10) with P16.49 billion.

Cagayan Valley’s domestic trade contributed the least share among the regions with only P40,000.

The data further said Central Luzon (Region 3) posted the most favorable trade balance at P13.10 billion.

Other regions which surpassed the billion positive trade balance was Metro Manila with P10.78 billion, and Bicol Region (Region 5) with P1.10 billion.

On the other hand, it reported that Eastern Visayas (Region 8) suffered an unfavorable trade balance of negative P4.92 billion.

Other regions with more than a billion pesos in negative trade balances were Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) with P3.76 billion, Caraga (Region 13) with P3.76 billion, Davao Region (Region 11) with P3.39 billion, Calabarzon (Region 4A) with P2.88 billion, Western Visayas with P2.69 billion, Mimaropa (Region 4B) with P2.59 billion, and Soccsksargen (Region 12) with P1.38 billion.