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Chapter II

Trends in
world trade:
Looking back
over the past
ten years

World merchandise trade and trade in commercial services, 2005-2015

10

Wo r l d me rcha ndi s e trade growth in value terms, 2 00 5- 2 0 1 5

11

Me rcha ndi s e tra de of W TO memb ers by region, 2 00 5- 2 0 1 5

12

Merchandise exports of developing economies, 2 00 5 and 2 0 15

13

Economi es by size of merchandise trade, 2 0 1 5

14

E conomi e s by s i z e of trade in commercial services, 2 0 1 5

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World Trade Statistical Review 2016

World merchandise trade and


trade in commercial services, 2005-2015
The value of merchandise
trade and trade in commercial
services in 2015 is nearly
twice as high as in 2005.

The value of merchandise trade


and trade in commercial services
declined in 2015 following modest
growth in 2012 to 2014.

World merchandise trade and trade in commercial services, 2005-2015

20,000
19,000
18,000
17,000
16,000
15,000
14,000
13,000
,
12,000
11,000
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000

Billion US dollar

4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
2005
20
005

Merchandise trade

10

2006

2007

2008

2009

Trade in commercial services

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

World merchandise trade growth


in value terms, 2005-2015
A decline in world commodity prices
had a significant impact on the value
of global merchandise trade in 2015.

45%

World energy prices


dropped by 45% in 2015.

Growth of world merchandise trade, 2005-2015


20

Exports

Imports

15

10

Annual percentage change


hange

-5
5

-10

-15

-20
2005

2006

2007

8
2008

2009

20
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

The ratio of merchandise trade to GDP fell sharply in 2009


following the economic crisis but bounced back quickly in 2010-2011.
In 2012-2014 it declined gradually, before falling significantly in 2015.
Ratio of world merchandise trade to GDP, 2005-2015
27%

24%

21%

18%

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Note: Merchandise trade to GDP ratio is estimated as merchandise trade (average of exports and imports
values) divided by GDP, measured in nominal dollar terms at market exchange rates.

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World Trade Statistical Review 2016

Merchandise trade of WTO


members by region, 2005-2015
Asia, Europe and North
America have accounted for 88%
in total merchandise trade of WTO
members over the past ten years.

The share of developing


economies in merchandise
exports increased from
33% in 2005 to 42% in 2015.

Merchandise trade of WTO members by region, 2005-2015


(percentage share, %)
100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
2005

North America

12

2006

2007

South America

2008

Europe

2009

2010

2011

Commonwealth of Independent States

2012

Africa

2013

Middle East

2014

Asia

2015

Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

Merchandise exports of developing


economies, 2005 and 2015
Merchandise trade between
developing economies has increased
from 41% to 52% of their global trade
in the last ten years.

55%
1%
3%

To developed economies
To developing economies

2005

To Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)


Not elsewhere specied

41%

43%

2%
3%

To developed economies
To developing economies

2015
To Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Not elsewhere specied

52%

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World Trade Statistical Review 2016

Economies by size
of merchandise trade, 2015

Billion
US Dollars

0 - 125
125 - 250
250 - 500
> 500

US$16.2 tn

52%
The top ten
merchandise
traders accounted
for 52% of the
worlds total
trade in 2015.

42%
Developing
economies
had a 42%
share in world
merchandise
trade in 2015.

Merchandise
exports of WTO
members totalled
US$ 16.2 trillion
in 2015.

Note: Merchandise trade is calculated as an average of exports and imports and including significant re-exports or imports for re-export.

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Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

Economies by size of trade


in commercial services, 2015

Billion
US Dollars

0 - 10
10 - 25
25 - 50
> 50

US$ 4.68 tn

53%
The top ten traders
in commercial
services accounted
for 53% of the
worlds total
trade in 2015.

36%
Developing
economies
accounted for
36% of total trade
in commercial
services in 2015.

Exports
of commercial
services by WTO
members totalled
US$ 4.68 trillion
in 2015.

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