Philippine exports rise 4.3pc in July

MANILA, Sept 10 (AFP) Philippine exports rose by 4.3 per cent in July against a year earlier due to higher prices of metal, petroleum and coconut products, the government said today. brExports in July increased to 4.43 billion dollars from 4.25 billion dollars in the same month last year, the National Statistics Office said. brHowever the July figure was a reduction from the 4.51 billion dollars worth of exports in June, the office said, citing revised figures. brThis brings total exports in the first seven months of the year to 30.03 billion dollars, up 4.1 per cent from the same period last year, the office said. brElectronic products, which accounted for 58 per cent of total exports in July, rose to 2.56 billion dollars, up 2.6 per cent from the same period last year. brThe Philippine government is targeting export growth of at least five per cent this year after lowering their projections from the original 11 per cent growth.