Philippines logs 5, 675 new Covid-19 cases, total rises to 1, 467, 119 but total external trade up 39.9 pct in May

MANILA, July 10 (Xinhua):The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Saturday 5, 675 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total tally to 1, 467, 119.

The death toll rose to 25, 816 after 96 more patients died from the coronavirus epidemic in the Southeast Asian country, according to the DOH.

The Philippines, which has around 110 million population, has tested more than 14 million people for Covid-19 since its outbreak in January 2020 in the country.

But despite the current Ciovid-19 issues in the country - the Philippines' total external trade in goods grew by 39.9 per cent in May from a year earlier to US$14.54 billion the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday, adding that China remains the biggest trading partner of the Southeast Asian country.

Of the total external trade in May, the PSA said 59.5 per cent were imported goods, while the rest exported goods.

The balance of trade in goods in May amounted to minus US$2.76 billion, representing a trade deficit with an annual increase of 109.7 per cent.

By trading partners, the PSA said exports to China comprised the highest value amounting to US$954.28 million or a share of 16.2 per cent of the total exports.

China was the Philippines' biggest supplier of imported goods valued at US$2.21 billion or 25.6 per cent of the total imports in May, the PSA added.- Xinhua