The value of exports increased by 10.2 percent to US$144.507 million in March 2023 from US$131.128 million in March 2022. The volume of exports totaled up to 136.494 million kilograms in March 2023 from 107.632 million kilograms the previous year. Imports value decreased by 8.3 percent to US$90.930 million in March 2023 from US$99.139 million in March 2022. Imports volume was up to 233.516 million kilograms in March 2023 from 216.735 million kilograms in March 2022.

In 2021, about 63.6 percent or six (6) of the 11 municipal and city LGUs in South Cotabato (excluding General Santos City) were categorized under Level 5 or those having poverty incidences among population below or equal to 20 percent. These six (6) LGUs were Koronadal City (11.8%), Polomolok (14.5%), Sto. Niño (17.7%), Tampakan (18.2%), Surallah (18.6%), and Norala (18.8%). Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of individuals with income less than the poverty threshold. Those in Level 5 had the least poverty incidence in the province.

Other Crops total production in the 1st Quarter 2023 in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 2.06% compared to the same period in 2022. Non-Food and Industrial Commercial Crops (NFICCs) increased by 34,453.2 MT (4.5%), Vegetables and Root Crops (VRC) increased by 839 MT or 1.5%, and Fruit Crops decreased 8,235.3 MT (1.7%) on the same reference period.

VOLUME OF PRODUCTION BY COMMODITY GROUP Other Crops total production in the 2nd Quarter 2023 in SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by (6.5%) compared to the same period in 2022. Non-Food and Industrial Commercial Crops (NFICs) decreased by 73,797.38 MT (13.8%) and Fruit Crops slightly increased 1,503.98 MT (0.3%), Vegetables and Root Crops (VRC) increased by 622.61 MT or (2.3%) on the same reference period.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES The Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region eases to 5.1% in March 2024 from 5.8% in February 2024.

Fisheries Production in SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by 9.0 percent In 2023, the Fisheries production of SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by 9.0 percent from 299,784.90 metric tons in 2022 to 272,861.41 metric tons in 2023 despite a 0.1 percent increase in Municipal Fisheries production.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES The Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased to 5.8% in February 2024 from 4.6% in January 2024.

Export value went down by 38.6 percent to US$87.947 million in February 2023 from US$143.349 million in February 2022. The volume of exports totaled up to 80.170 million kilograms in February 2023 from 123.073 million kilograms the previous year. The value of imports decreased by 1.4 percent to US$76.483 million in February 2023 from US$77.587 million in February 2022. Imports volume were up to 172.903 million kilograms in February 2023 from 119.866 million kilograms in February 2022.

The total export value increased by 24.3 percent to US$109.250 million in January 2023 from US$87.893 million in January 2022. The volume of exports summed up to 102.542 million kilograms in January 2023 from 78.120 million kilograms the previous year. The value of imports were down by 4.4 percent to US$85.266 million in January 2023 from US$89.152 million in January 2022. Imports volume were up to 224.390 million kilograms in January 2023 from 178.064 million kilograms in January 2022.

Export value decreased by 23.0 percent to US$106.784 million in November 2022 from US$138.700 million in November 2021. The volume of exports went down to 99.070 million kilograms in November 2022 from 120.825 million kilograms the previous year. Import value increased by 11.1 percent to US$72.497 million in November 2022 from US$65.258 million in November 2021. Imports volume decreased to 122.917 million kilograms in November 2022 from 174.745 million kilograms in November 2021.