World merchandise exports volume growth slowed down to 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011

10 July 2012

In the fourth quarter of 2011, world merchandise exports and imports volume growth (over previous quarter) went up by 0.9% and 1.3% respectively. Both numbers are less than average growth rate in the same quarter of the past 5 years (2006-2010) with 2.8% and 2.2% respectively. This indicates a global slowdown in the trade activities.

 

Chart 1. Growth in merchandise trade volume, Q1 2008-Q4 2011
(percentage change over previous quarter)
 2012-07-10_Stats01_539x430.gif
The merchandise exports volume contracted in major Asian economies, falling by 2.6% in developed Asian economies and by 2.0% in developing Asia, while the imports of the latter were growing by 3.9%.
 
In the contrary, the rise in global trade exports volume was marked in developing Africa, which recorded the highest growth among all the groups with a rate of 11.0%, while the volume of its merchandise imports remained stagnant (see table 1).
 
 
Table 1. Fourth quarter trade volume growth rate in 2011 and for 2006-2010 period
(percentage change over previous quarter)

 

​

 

Arrow Arrow