Philippines Q1 agriculture sector output contracts 0.3% y/y

MANILA, May 11 (Reuters) –

• The Philippines’ overall agricultural output contracted at annual pace of 0.3% by value in January-March, government data on Wednesday showed.

• Crops output, which accounted for 58% of the sector’s overall production in the first quarter, fell 1.6% as paddy rice harvest decreased by 1.9%.

• Livestock output shrank 1%, as hog production – hit by an African swine fever outbreak – decreased by 1.2%.

• Fisheries output fell 5.8% but poultry production expanded 12.3%

• The government is scheduled to release overall economic output data for the same period at around 0200 GMT on Thursday

(Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz
Editing by Ed Davies)

((enrico.delacruz@tr.com))