CLARK FREEPORT — Early signs of an export boom in this freeport this year were noted as early as last January, with firms reporting $331.8 million worth of products shipped to other countries in this first month alone, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) reported yesterday.
“Leading the surge in the export products is the South Korean semi-conductor fi rm which continues to be the biggest exporter at Clark,” said the CDC in a report. The report submitted to CDC Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Vice President Mariza Mandocdoc named the Korean firm as Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp. whose exports last January was estimated to have been worth $198.918 million value or 60 percent of the total exports for the month.
The report noted, however, that raw material importations worth $276.064 million for the month of January was higher by more than $2 million in the same month in 2013 when importation cost $265 million.
January export of Nanox Philippines Inc., a Japanese firm, was worth $59.932 million or about 17 percent of the total, second highest exports, while PSPC, which is the newest Korean firm to invest here, was third with exports worth $51.1 million or 26.02 percent of the total.
Another Japanese firm, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. placed fourth with more than $21.206 million exports, while SMK Electronics (Phils.) Corp. posted $11.160 million exports. Garment factory L&T International Groups Phils., Inc. had $10.892 million worth of exports.
Also in the top 10 exporters in Clark are Amertron, Inc. with $ 7.365 million, HLD Clark Steel Pipe, Inc. with $6.952 million, UPS International, Inc. with $2.151 million, Golden Stone Garments, Inc. with 1.626 million and Multi-Tek Fastener Inc. with $1.422 million.
The CDC said the volume of exports recorded in the same month in 2013 is $276 million or higher by over $55 million, which it described as “an indication of a brighter investment inside the Freeport in 2014.”
“The CDC is expecting that the electronics, tires, garments, and other industrial goods will continue to be the zones top exporters in the coming months this year,” the CDC added. It noted that the January figures “may even be understated since it is exclusive of the value of services rendered by the number of BPOs operating in Clark.”
