Philippine exports dropped by a larger-than-expected 13% vs. a year earlier in July, the 16th straight fall. A 14% drop in exports to Japan led the charge, with the U.S. swinging to a decline of 1% after three months of growth. Panjiva data for August suggests exports to the U.S. by sea could improve. Yet, the competitiveness of the key electronics industry remains critical to regional competitiveness vs. Taiwan.