EXPORTS of Philippine-made goods in March grew by 4 percent to $4.35 billion from last year's $4.18 billion, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported Tuesday.

For the first three months of the year, exports rose by 7.8 percent to $ 12.215 billion from $11.33 billion in the same period last year.

Electronics exports fetched $ 2.38 billion in March, up from $ 2.015 billion in February.

Sales of coconut oil, including crude and refined, amounted to $ 183.19 million, up by 78.5 percent compared to last year's $ 102.62 million.

Exports of apparel and clothing accessories recorded a 1.9 percent increase to $ 148.81 million from $ 146.0 million recorded in March last year.

Woodcrafts and furniture sales amounted to $ 142.34 million from the year-ago level of $ 94.35 million.

Rounding up the list of the top 10 exports for the month of March were cathodes and section of cathodes, of refined copper amounting to $ 135.85 million; followed by ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircraft and ships, $ 95.69 million; petroleum products, including refined petroleum products, manufactured from crude petroleum oil imported on consignment basis, $ 76.43 million; metal components, excluding brakes and servo-brakes, $ 68.13 million; other products manufactured from materials imported on consignment basis, $ 45.17 million; and bananas (fresh), $34.53 million.

Total receipts from the top 10 exports reached $ 3.169 billion, or 72.8 percent of the total exports.

Japan, including Okinawa, emerged as the country’s top destination of exports with revenue amounting to $ 760.64 million, higher by 11.4 percent from $ 682.67 million recorded a year ago.

The United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, followed with imports worth $ 608.75 million.

Total exports to People’s Republic of China amounted to $ 500.33 million, up from $ 487.38 million.

Exports to Hong Kong amounted to $ 432.71 million and to Singapore, $ 412.21 million.

Other top 10 markets for March 2011 were Republic of Korea, $ 231.93 million; Taiwan, $ 178.28 million; Germany, $ 170.51 million; Netherlands, $ 164.70 million; and Thailand, $ 164.20 million.

Total export receipts from the country’s top 10 markets for the month of March 2011 amounted to $ 3.624 billion or 83.3 percent of the total.