PHILIPPINE imports inched up 1.4% to $4.166 billion in June from $4.107 billion in the same month last year, according to latest data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The growth is lackluster compared to previous months’ performance. On a month-on-month basis, imports declined 12.4% from $4.753 billion in May.

Electronic products remained the country’s leading import commodity, accounting for 34.7% or $1.444 billion of the total June import bill, up 4.3% over $1.385 billion in the same month last year.

Ranking second were imports of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials. With a 17.2% share of the aggregate, shipments dropped 16.4$% from $854.96 million to $714.60 million.

Transport equipment was the third top import grouping for June with a 6% share of the total at $250.02 million.

Japan was the country’s biggest source of imports, accounting for 12.8% of the aggregate at $534.71 million, higher by 9.9% from $486.60 million in June 2009.

Singapore, the second biggest source of imports with a 10.4% share of the total, recorded payments of $432.42 million, up 47.3% from $293.58 million.

Representing 10% of the total import bill, the US came third with shipments down 8.5% from $457.29 million to $418.27 million.

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