WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/136 
9 November 2004 
 
 (04-4660) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
PARTICIPATION OF THE DEVELOPING ECONOMIES  
IN THE GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM 
 
 
I.
 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... ...1 
II. OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... ........2  
III. MERCHANDISE TRADE BY REGION...................................................................................6  
A. LATIN AMERICA ..........................................................................................................................6  
B. AFRICA ............................................................................................................................... .........8  
C. MIDDLE EAST............................................................................................................................10  
D. ASIA............................................................................................................................... ...........12  
IV. SERVICES....................................................................................................................... .........15  
V. LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCs).........................................................................17  
ANNEXES........................................................................................................................ .....................19  
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................... .....................29  
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
 This note has been prepared by the Secr etariat to assist the Committee on Trade and 
Development to meet its requirement to keep under c ontinuous review the participation of developing 
economy Members in the multilateral trading system.1  It updates previous studies on this topic 
produced for the Committee in 1997, 2000 and 2002.2  The paper highlights salient features of 
developing economy trade, focusing mainly on the period 2000-2003.  The Appendix contains a series of country-specific tabulations that are not referre d to in the text, but that delegations may find 
useful.
3 
  
 
  
                                                     
 
1 This note has been prepared under the Secretariat' s own responsibility and is without prejudice to the 
position of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO. 
2 WT/COMTD/W/31, WT/COMTD/W/65 and WT/COMTD/W/100 
3 Data published in this document (except where otherwise indicated) are derived from the WTO's 
International Trade Statistics Report 2004 and the WTO's Statistics Database (http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_e.htm).  For more information on the definitions of indicators 
and detailed sources of data, see the Technical Notes in the above mentioned report or the WTO's Statistics 
website.   WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 2  
 
II. OVERVIEW  
Chart 1:  Merchandise trade of developing economies, 1990-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
050010001500200025003000
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003051015202530
exports imports
share in world exports (right-hand scale) share in world imports (right-hand scale)
 
 
1. Between 2001 and 2003, the partic ipation of developing economies4 in world exports rose 
slightly from 29 per cent to 30 per cent, the same level as in 2000.  As illustrated in Chart 1, 
developing economies experienced a more than twofold increase in their merchandise trade over the 
period 1990-2000.  Both their exports and imports gr ew faster than world trade, increasing their 
respective shares in global trade from 23 per cent to  30 per cent and from 21 per cent to 26 per cent.  
In 2001, the burst of the IT bubble directly affected six Asian economies among the main developing exporters.  This resulted in both a drop in the value of total developing economies' exports 
(-6 per cent) and a contraction in their share of worl d trade by one percentage point.  After recovering 
moderately in 2002, the dollar value of developing economies' exports soared by 17 per cent in 2003, 
reaching US$2,191 billion, and driving their contribu tion to world exports back to 30 per cent, the 
2000 level.  Although the depreciation of the US dolla r and higher prices (in particular for fuels) 
contributed to this above-average  growth, developing economies also  performed particularly well in 
real terms, as exports measured in volume terms are estimated to have gained 11 per cent (against 
4.5 per cent for the world average).  Developing economies' imports also experienced a decrease in 
2001 followed by a recovery in the following two years.  Their share in world imports, however, 
remained steady at about 26 per cent throughout the period. 
2. Behind these aggregate figures, the performances of  developing regions and economies varied 
widely.  At the regional level, the main developmen ts were an increase in developing Asia's share of 
world exports, and a decrease in that of Latin Americ a.  At the level of i ndividual economies, between 
2000 and 2003, 61 out of a total of 148 developing economies for which data are available showed 
exports growing faster than the world average.  Most of these (34) were African countries.  In 
particular, a large number of agricultural product ex porters saw their exports increase faster than the 
region's average (see Annex Char t 1).  Conversely, the performan ce of traditional oil exporters 
followed oil prices in their two-year drop from the 2000 peak level (see Annex Table 1)  and recovered 
in 2003.  Depressed conditions in Latin America affect ed a majority of countries in the region, whose 
annual export growth decreased, or was sluggish at b est.  The IT crisis had worldwide repercussions, 
but the impact was strongest in the Asian economi es.  Although 2003 marked a recovery for many of 
                                                     
 
4 Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand.  
Hong Kong, China re-exports are excluded throughout this report, unless otherwise indicated.  The regional 
definitions are contained in the WTO's annual publication International Trade Statistics .  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 3 
 
 
them, 30 out of 43 Asian economies posted below-aver age export growth over the period 2000-2003.  
One of the most dynamic exporters was China, w hose growth was a major driver for aggregate 
developing economy trade performance.  With export s and imports soaring on average by more than 
20 per cent each year between 2000 and 2003, China also contributed to a change in the regional 
patterns of developing economy merchandise trade. 
Chart 2:  Developing economies' merchandise ex ports by region and selected economies (origin), 
2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
2000
Developing
Asia
59%China 
23%
Latin 
America
19%Africa
8%Middle 
East
14%NICs (6) 
59%
Other 
developing 
Asia
18%2003
Middle 
East
14%
Africa
8%
Latin 
America
17%China 
33%
Developing
Asia
61%NICs (6) 
51%
Other 
developing 
Asia
16%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
3. China's share in developing economies' exports increased by seven percentage points between 
2000 and 2003.  In the same period, the six East Asian traders (NICs (6))5, five of which were among 
the economies most directly affected by the 2001 burst of the IT bubble, posted less than 2 per cent 
average annual growth in their exports (-12 per cen t in 2001).  Their share in developing economy 
exports consequently droppe d from 35 per cent to 31 per cent.  The net result for developing Asia as a 
whole was that its contribution to developing economies' exports reached 61 per cent, three 
percentage points up from the region's 2000 share (see Chart 2).  This expansion took place at the 
expense of Latin America, whose contribution to developing economies' total exports shrank by two 
percentage points.  Indeed, the region's difficulti es caused exports to grow on average more slowly 
than those of the NICs (6).  The shares of expor ts from Africa and the Middle East in total developing 
economy exports remained virtually unchanged (8 per cent and 14 per cent respectively). 
 
                                                      
5 Hong Kong, China;  Republic of Korea;  Malaysia;  Singapore;  Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) and Thailand. WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 4  
 
Chart 3:  Destinations of developing  economies’ merchandise exports, 2000-03 
(Billon dollars) 
 
 
 
4. Chart 3 above describes developing economies' me rchandise exports by destination.  Between 
2000 and 2003, the share of South-South trade in developing economies' total exports increased by 
1 percentage point, to 38 per cent, and developing Asia became the largest market for developing 
economy exports. China's growing demand for fore ign products, especially from other developing 
economies (44 per cent growth on average each year), made China an increasingly important destination for their exports between 2000 and 2003.   In 2003, China absorbed 7 per cent of the 
group's total exports, against 3 per cent three years earlier.  The relative expansion of South-South 
trade was also due to sluggish increases in exports  to major developed partner regions, namely North 
America and developed Asia n economies.  In particular, as the share of North America in developing 
economy exports fell to 27 per cent (minus three percentage points compared to 2000), intra-
developing Asia trade became the largest trade fl ow for developing economies in 2003, accounting for 
28 per cent of their total exports, compared to 27 per cent in 2000.  
Chart 4:  Developing economies' merchandise exports by product groups, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
2000
Manu-
factures
66%Agricul-
tural 
products
9%
Fuels
22%n.e.s.Non fuel 
minerals
3%2003
Manu-
factures
66%Non fuel 
minerals
3%n.e.s.
Fuels
20%Agricul-
tural 
products
9%
 
 
 Western 
 Europe 
Latin AmericaAfrica 
Developed  Developing
2000 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 
Developed Developing  
2003Developed  
Asia 
North  AmericaWestern
 EuropeDeveloped 
Asia
North  
America 
Latin America  AfricaMiddle East  Middle EastChinaChina Other  
Developing Asia Other  Developing  
Asia WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 5 
 
 
5. As shown in Chart 4, the composition of de veloping economies' expor ts did not change 
significantly between 2000 and 2003.  Non-fuel primary commodities6, fuels and manufactures 
accounted respectively for about 12 per cent, 20 per cent and two thirds of total exports.7  T h e  
contribution of developing econom y exports to world trade in agricultural products remained 
unchanged throughout the period, at  slightly above 29 per cent (see Chart 5 below).  The share 
decreased by three percentage poi nts for trade in fuels (58 per cent in 2003) and gained respectively 
two and one percentage points as regards exports of non-fuel minerals and manufactures (31 per cent 
and 27 per cent in 2003).  The increased participa tion of developing economy exports in world trade 
in manufactures was mainly accounted for by th eir relative dynamism in office and telecom 
equipments, in particular TV sets, VCRs and s ound recorders.  As illustrated in Annex Table 2, 
developing economy exports of these products rose on average by more than 15 per cent each year 
since 2000, resulting in an increase in their share of  world trade in office and telecom equipment from 
41 per cent to 48 per cent.  Developing economies also  posted above-average gr owth in their exports 
of other machinery and transport equipment, and in  other consumer goods.  Conversely, their share in 
world exports of clothing lost three percentage points, although it remained high (58 per cent in 
2003).  
Chart 5:  Share of developing economies' exports in world trade by products, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003
Agricultural products Non-fuel  minerals Fuels Manufactures
Developing economies Developed and transition economies
 
 
6. While developing economies have been net exporte rs of merchandise to the rest of the world 
since 1998, they have been importing more commercial services than they export.  In 2003, their imports of commercial services were worth US$437 b illion, exceeding their expo rts by US$53 billion.  
Over the period 2000-2003, the share of developi ng economies in world trade of commercial services 
has declined (from 23 per cent to 21 per cent on the exports side, and from 26 per cent to 25 per cent 
on the imports side).  This contrasted with the 90s, where the developing economies' share in world 
trade in services was increasing on average. 
 
                                                     
 
6 Defined as agricultural products plus mining products, excluding fuels.  The product classification 
used in this report is based on the one applied in the WTO International Trade Statistics 2004.  Among others, 
the definition of agricultural products differs from the definition applied in the WTO trade negotiations on 
market access in agriculture.  One of th e major differences is the inclusion of fish and fish products in the 
former but not in the latter. 
7 It should be noted that the breakdown of developing economies' exports by product reflects wide 
discrepancies between regions and individual economies (see below). WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 6  
 
Table 1:  Merchandise trade of developing  regions and selected economies, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  Exports  Imports 
  Value  Annual percentage change  Value  Annual percentage change 
  2003   2000-03 2002 2003   2003   2000-03 2002 2003 
              
World a 7294  5.2 4.5 15. 8  7569  5.1 3.7 15.9 
              
Developing economies a 2191  5.4 6.4 17.4  1972  5.1 4.1 15.9 
Latin America 378  1.5 -0.2 8.7  366  -1.9 -6.9 3.4 
Mexico 165  -0.2 1.3 2.9  179  -0.8 0.2 1.1 
Other Latin America 212  3.0 -1 .5 13.6  188  -3.0 -13.2 5.8 
Africa 173  5.6 2.5 22. 8  166  8.5 1.5 20.9 
North Africa 63  5.9 3. 5 25.1  54  4.8 6.2 6.9 
Sub-Saharan Africa 111  5.5 1. 8 21.4  112  10.6 -1.0 29.1 
     South Africa 36  6. 8 1.6 22.7  41  11.4 3.6 40.4 
Middle East 299  3.8 2.2 18.6  192  6.3 4.5 9.2 
Developing Asia a 1342  6.9 10.2 19.2  1249  6.9 8.8 20.7 
NICS (6) a 688  1.8 5.5 14.0  616  0.1 3.5 12.0 
China 438  20.7 22.4 34. 5  413  22.4 21.2 39.9 
Other 216  3.3 7.1 9. 8  220  6.4 7.6 16.1 
Memorandum items:             
Developed Countries 4702  4.5 3.3 14.2  5218  4.4 3.2 15.1 
Transition Economies 401  13.9 9.7 27.8  379  16.2 10.9 27.1 
LDCs (50) 44  6.9 8.1 12.7  56  9.4 0.9 20.3 
                        
a  Excluding Hong Kong, China re-exports.                 
 
 
III. MERCHANDISE TRADE BY REGION 
A. LATIN AMERICA  
Table 2:  Latin America.  Merchandise exports by product groups, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  Value   Share in developing 
economies   Share in  
world   Annual percentage 
change 
  2003   2000   2003   2000   2003   2000-03 2003 
Total merchandise 173  7.8  7.9  2.3  2.4  5.6 22.8 
  Agricultural products 24  11. 7  12.3  3.4  3.6  8.4 16.1 
  Mining products 95  18.5  19.1  9.9  9.9  3.4 27.1 
    Fuels 84  18.6  19. 3  11.3  11.1  3.3 28.6 
  Manufactures 47  3.1  3.2  0.8  0.9  7.6 21.7 
                         
 
 7. In 2003, Latin America's merchandise trade began recovering, with an increase of 9 per cent 
for exports (reaching US$378 billion) and 3 per cent  on the imports side (see Tables 1 and 2).  
However, its trade performance lagge d behind that of other developi ng regions.  Despite the improved 
situation in 2003, the region's annual average grow th of merchandise exports was only 2 per cent from 
2000 to 2003 and imports decreased on av erage by 2 per cent over the same period. 
8. This below-average trade performance can be expl ained mostly by the decrease in the value 
of exports of manufactures and mining products to No rth America, which is by far the region's main 
export market.   WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 7 
 
 
9. Mercosur's imports dropped shar ply in 2000-2002, but slowly began recovering in 2003.  In 
addition, Venezuela's trade decreased in 2002-2003.  Ho wever, this did not seem to affect its partners 
in the region, as for instance the trade of other ec onomies of the Andean group continued growing in 
2002-2003. 
10. Chart 6 hereunder shows the structure of Latin  America's exports in 2000 and 2003.  The 
share of manufactured exports, by far the main  product group exported by Latin America in 2003 
(56 per cent of the total), decreased by three percenta ge points compared to 2000, in favour of exports 
of agricultural products (from 17 per cent in 2000 to  20 per cent in 2003).  Exports of mining 
products, accounting for 22 per cent of total mercha ndise exports of the region, slightly decreased 
compared to 2000.  
Chart 6:  Latin America.  Merchandi se exports by product groups, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
2000
  
Agricultural 
products
17%
  Mining 
products
23%n.e.s.
  Manu-
factures
59%2003
  
Agricultural 
products
20%
  Mining 
products
22%  Manu-
factures
56%n.e.s.
 
 
11. The overall trade performance of Latin America wa s significantly affected by Mexico.  This 
country alone represents nearly half the trade of Latin America (mainly due to the Maquiladoras ), 
with manufactures accounting for about 85 per cent of its  exports.  Mexico did not record a good trade 
performance compared to other countries in the region over the period, and especially in 2001 and 
2003.  This can be linked to the sluggish growth of  shipments to North America, which accounts for 
over 90 per cent of Mexico's exports.  The 2003 rec overy is much more pronounced on average for 
other countries of Latin America.  In 2003, their e xports of merchandise grew by 14 per cent, slightly 
below the world average.  Imports grew by 6 per cent.  When looking at the breakdown by main product group for the rest of Latin America (e xcluding Mexico) for 2002, agricultural and mining 
products have a much more prominent role in the trade of the region, representing 30 per cent each of 
total exports, with manufactures accounting for about 40 per cent. 
12. As can be seen from Chart 7, the share of developed economies in Latin America's total 
exports accounted for approximately 73 per cent in 20 03, of which 58 per cent went to North America 
(4 per cent less than in 2000) and 14 per cent to Western Europe.  Intra-regional trade decreased 
between 2000 and 2003, amounting to 16 per cent of tota l trade in 2003.  The overall decrease of the 
share of the American continent in the trade of  Latin America mainly benefited other developing 
regions.  Although Africa remained a small trading partner for Latin America, shipments to this 
region increased on average by 24 per cent per year.  With exports to China growing at 34 per cent per 
year from 2000 to 2003, exports to developing Asia (6  per cent of Latin Amer ica's exports) grew by 
19 per cent annually.  Within developing Asia, China now accounts for approximately half of 
Latin America's exports to developing Asia.   
 WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 8  
 
Chart 7:  Latin America.   Merchandise exports by region, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
2003
tra n sition  
economies
1%Western 
Europe
14 %
North America
58%Developed 
Asia
2%
developing
economies
24%
Developing 
Asia
24%Africa
6%Lat in A merica
65%
Middle East
5%2000
Middle East
4%Africa
4%tra n sition  
economies
1%Developed 
Asia
2%
developing
economies
22%Western 
Europe
12 %
Nort h America
62% Developing 
Asia
16 %Lat in America
77%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
 
B. AFRICA  
Table 3:  Africa.  Merchandise ex ports by product groups, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  Value   Share in developing 
economies   Share in  
world   Annual percentage 
change 
  2003   2000   2003   2000   2003   2000-03 2003 
Total merchandise 173  7.8  7.9  2.3  2.4  5.6 22.8 
  Agricultural products 24  11.7  12.3  3.4  3.6  8.4 16.1 
  Mining products 95  18.5  19.1  9.9  9.9  3.4 27.1 
    Fuels 84  18.6  19.3  11.3  11.1  3.3 28.6 
  Manufactures 47  3.1  3.2  0.8  0.9  7.6 21.7 
                          
 
 13. Africa's merchandise exports and imports grew  faster than the world average from 2000 to 
2003.  The rise was particularly pronounced in 2003, as both the region's exports and imports soared 
by more than 20 per cent.  As illustrated in Ta bles 1 and 3, exports reached US$173 billion, exceeding 
imports for the fourth consecutive year.   WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 9 
 
 
Chart 8:  Africa, North Africa and Sub-Sahara n Africa.  Merchandise exports by product 
groups, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003
Africa North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa
Agricultural products Non-fuel minerals Fuels Manufactures n.e.s.
 
 
14. Fewer than ten African countries represent virtually  all the region's exports of fuels.  These 
increased by 29 per cent to US$84 billion in 2003, fo llowing two years of contraction.  African 
exports of fuels lagged behind agricultural pr oducts and manufactures for the 2000-03 period as a 
whole.  Fuels nevertheless remained by far the main  component of the region's exports in 2003, with a 
share of 48 per cent, three percentage poi nts below the 2000 level (see Chart 8 above). 
15. The region's dynamic agricultural exports thro ughout the period were largely driven by 
Sub-Saharan countries.  These accounted for a large majority of the region's agricultural exports in 
2003, even when excluding South Africa.  Many least-developed exporters of non-fuel primary 
commodities, and in particular on agricultural produc ts, recorded an annual average increase of more 
than 10 per cent between 2000 and 2003.  The aver ages sometimes hide wide fluctuations on a 
year-on-year basis.  
16. For a majority of Sub-Saharan African countri es, manufactures is a small component of their 
exports.  Excluding South Africa, it is estimated that manufactures overall accounted for about one 
fifth of exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in 2003, slight ly higher than four years earlier.  To a certain 
extent, the gain can be attributed to several least -developed countries, such as Lesotho, benefiting 
from increased investments in the clothing sector re lating to the US African Growth and Development 
Act (AGOA).  However, these developments had little significance at the regional level, as more than 
70 per cent of manufactured exports originated from South Africa and North African countries. 
17. Comparing 2000 and 2003, North America's share as a destination of African exports 
increased from 17 per cent to 19 per cent (see Chart 9 be low).  This occurred mainly in 2003 as fuel 
exports to this region grew considerably (63 per cent).  At 48 per cent, Western Europe was four 
percentage points below its 2000 level.  
18. The region's exports have always been principa lly directed towards developed countries, with 
a share ranging between 70 per cent and 73 per cent during the past decade.  However, the 2003 share 
of 71 per cent was significantly lower than the 76 pe r cent share recorded in 1990.  Excluding fuels, 
the share of developed economies in Afri can exports was 67 per cent in 2003. WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 10  
 
Chart 9:  Africa.  Merchandise exports by region, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
2003
t ransit ion 
e con om ies
1% West ern 
Europe
48%
Nort h A merica
19 %Developed Asia
4%
developing
econom ies
28%
Developing 
Asia49%Africa
36%Lat in America
9%
Middle  E a s t
5%2000
tra n sition  
econom ies
0%West ern 
Europe
52%
North America
17%Developed Asia
3%
developing
econom ies
28%
Developing 
Asia46%Africa
35%Lat in A merica
11%
Mi ddl e  E a s t
8%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
 
C. MIDDLE EAST 
Chart 10:  Middle East.  Merchandise expo rts of countries by product groups, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003
Middle East Oil exporters Non-oil exporters
  Agricultural products   Mining products   Manufactures
 
 
19. Fuel continues to be a dominant component of Middle East merchandise exports, representing 
71 per cent of total exports in 2003 (see Chart 10 above).  As a result, year to year fluctuations in the 
value of the region's exports can largely be explai ned by changes in energy prices.  For example, 
Table 4 below shows that total merchandise expor ts from the Middle East in 2003 increased by 
19 per cent to almost US$300 billion, but much of this change can be attributed to the 17 per cent rise 
in energy prices in the same year (see Annex Table 1).  Non-fuel exports from the region also grew in 
2003, but only by 12 per cent.  The average annual growth of Middle East merchandise exports during 
2000-03 was a more modest 4 per cent, slightly below the world average of 5 per cent, but again following the trend in energy prices.    WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 11 
 
 
Table 4:  Middle East.  Merchandise exports by product groups, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  Value   Share in developing 
economies   Share in  
world   Annual percentage 
change 
  2003   2000   2003   2000   2003   2000-03 2003 
Total merchandise 299  14.3  13.6  4.3  4.1  3.8 18.6 
  Agricultural products 10  4. 9  5.1  1.4  1.5  8.5 7.2 
  Mining products 218  43.8  43.7  23.6  22.7  2.3 21.5 
    Fuels 213  48.8  49. 1  29.6  28.2  2.2 21.7 
  Manufactures 67  4.4  4.6  1.1  1.2  7.6 11.6 
                          
 
 20. The volume of oil exports in 2003 was lower th an expected due to reduced shipments from 
Iraq once production there had resumed.  This contribu ted to a decline in the share of the Middle East 
in world fuel exports, from 30 per cent in 2000 to 28 pe r cent in 2003.  Security concerns in the region 
and demand growth in developed economies and in  China combined to keep oil prices high and 
helped sustain an overall increase in the value of Middle East exports in 2003.   
21. The principal destinations of Middle East merchandise exports shifted away from Western 
Europe and toward Asia and North America during the 1990s, and this trend continued in 2003, with 
exports to North America growing faster than any other region at 23 per cent.  Shipments to Western 
Europe increased at roughly the same rate as overall  exports, at 19 per cent.  Exports to Asia grew 
almost as quickly as those to North America, at  22 per cent, thanks to a recovering Japanese economy 
and strong demand growth in China. 
22. The growth of merchandise exports from the Middle East to developing regions lagged 
behind exports to developed econom ies in 2003, with the notable ex ception of China, whose demand 
growth was higher than the rest of developing As ia.  Merchandise exports from the Middle East to 
China increased by 44 per cent over the 2000-03 period, and by 52 per cent in 2003.  In contrast, the 
value of shipments to Latin America grew by less th an 2 per cent in 2003, whic h can be attributed to 
slow economic growth in two of the region's largest  economies, Brazil and Argentina.  Slower than 
average growth was also seen in  exports to the transition economies, which grew by 15 per cent in 
2003.  Exports of the Middle East to Africa grew at roughly the same rate as overall exports (19 per cent in 2003).   WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 12  
 
Chart 11:  Middle East.  Merchandise exports by region, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
2003
tra n sition  
econom ies
1%
Western 
Europe
17% N o r t h A mer i c a
17%Developed 
Asia
20%
developing
economies
45%Developing 
Asia
72%
Africa
8%Lat in America
2%
Middle East
17%2000
Middle East
16 %Lat in A merica
3%
Africa
9%Developing 
Asia
72%
developing
economies
44%Developed 
Asia
20%
Nort h America
16 %Western 
Europe
19 %transition 
economies
1%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
23. The Middle East's intra-regional trade in 2 003 was lower than for any other region at 
7 per cent of total exports (17 per cent of exports to developing economies, see Chart 11).  This low 
level of intra-regional trade can be explained by the predominance of oil in Middle East exports.  
When fuels are excluded, the share of intra-regional trade in total exports for 2003 rises to 21 per cent.  
The export performance of non-oil economies in the Middle East between 2000 and 2003 was particularly strong, with Lebanon' s exports growing at an average annual rate of 29 per cent over the 
period, while the average annual growth of e xports from Jordan during the same period was 
18 per cent.  Israel was an exception, with stagnant exports and imports during 2000-03.  
 
D. A
SIA  
Table 5:  Developing Asia.  Merchandise exports by products, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  Value   Share in developing 
economies   Share in world   Annual percentage 
change 
  2003   2000   2003   2000   2003   2000-03 2003 
Total merchandise 1342  58.6  61.2  17.5  18.4  6.9 19.2 
  Agricultural products 87  45. 0  44.5  13.1  13.0  6.5 13.9 
  Mining products 102  19.5  20.4  10.5  10.6  4.0 25.4 
    Fuels 77  17.5  17. 7  10.6  10.2  2.4 24.1 
  Manufactures 1130  75.3  77.6  19.7  20.8  6.9 18.8 
                          
 
 24. Between 2000 and 2003, developi ng Asia's growth of mercha ndise trade in nominal terms 
was slightly faster than the worl d average.  Both exports and imports grew by 7 per cent per year on 
average, reaching respectively US$1,342 billion and US$1,249 billion (see Tables 1 and 5).  The 
2000-03 period included a decline in merchandise expor ts in 2001 following the collapse of the IT 
bubble, which had a significant impact on several of the region's largest economies.    WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 13 
 
 
25. The expansion of developing Asia's trade was driven by strong GDP growth within the 
region, especially in China, and by the recovery of exports to developed regions.  Growing economies 
particularly contributed to an increase in intr a-regional trade, which rose from US$381 billion in 2000 
to US$478 billion in 2003.  The share of intra-regiona l trade in developing Asia's exports increased to 
36 per cent in 2003, from 35 per cent in 2000.  This trend was most pronounced for China's regional 
trading partners, as the value of their exports to China increased by 87 per cent between 2000 and 
2003, from US$60 billion to US$113 billion. 
Chart 12:  Developing Asia.  Merchandise exports by region, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
2003
tra n sition  
economies
2%
West ern 
Europe
18 %
Nort h A merica
22%Developed 
Asia
14 %
developing
economies
44%Developing 
Asia84%
Africa
4%Lat in America
5%
Middle East
7%2000
Middle  E a s t
6%Lat in America
6%
Africa
4%Developing 
Asia
84%
developing
economies
41 %Developed 
Asia
16 %
Nort h A merica
24%Western 
Europe
17%tra n sition  
economies
1%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
26. The principal destinations of developing Asia 's exports in 2003 outside of the region 
continued to be North America, Western Europe and developed Asia, alt hough the relative importance 
of Western Europe increased at the expense of the other two regions between 2000 and 2003 (see 
Chart 12 above).  North America's share of deve loping Asia's exports dropped from 24 per cent in 
2000 to 22 per cent in 2003, whereas Western Europe's  share rose from 17 per cent to 18 per cent and 
developed Asia's fell from 16 per cent to 14 per cent.  Developed Asia's share might have fallen even 
further in the absence of the economic recovery in  Japan in 2003.  Exports from developing Asia to 
Japan rose by nearly 15 per cent in 2003, to US$152  billion.  Shipments to the transition economies 
more than doubled during the same period, rising from US$12 billion to US$26 billion, but this still 
represented just 2 per cent of developing Asia's exports in 2003, up from 1 per cent in 2000.   
27. Developing Asia's exports to ot her developing regions remained  very small relative to total 
exports, as shipments to Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and the transition economies each only represented between 2 per cent and 3 per cent of to tal exports in 2003.  Exports to Latin America 
stagnated between 2000 and 2003, causing their share of total exports to fall from 3 per cent to 
2 per cent.  Although exports to Africa and the Mi ddle East over this period grew by 15 per cent and 
11 per cent respectively, their shares in total exports in 2003 were almost unchanged from 2000. WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 14  
 
Chart 13:  Developing Asia, China, NICs (6) a nd Other Developing Asia.  Merchandise exports 
by product groups, 2000-03 
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003
Developing Asia China NICs (6) Other developing Asia
  Agricultural products   Mining products   Manufactures
 
28. Looking at the commodity structure of devel oping Asia's exports (Chart 13 above), one sees 
that manufactures are the dominant component fo r the region as a whole, representing nearly 
85 per cent of exports in 2003, almost unchange d from 2000.  The proportion of manufactures in 
exports in 2003 is even higher for the NICs (6) group (86 per cent), as well as for China (90 per cent).  
Mining and agriculture are somewhat more importa nt for other developing Asia (19 per cent and 
13 per cent respectively), but manufactures is still the most prominent commodity group for this set of 
economies. 
29. The most dynamic large economy in the region in terms of its trade performance between 
2000 and 2003 was China, with average annual merc handise export growth of nearly 21 per cent and 
import growth of 22 per cent.  China's exports in 2003 were led by machinery and transport 
equipment (including office machines and teleco m equipment), as was also the case for China's 
imports.  India experienced strong growth in its trade performance during 2000-03, with exports and 
imports respectively growing at 10 per cent and 11 pe r cent per year on average.  India's exports were 
led by manufactures, the most important of which we re clothing and textiles.  The Republic of Korea's 
exports advanced by 15 per cent and imports by 7 per cent per year during this period.  Smaller 
economies in the region also achieved notable trad e expansion, including Viet Nam, with average 
export and import growth of 11 per cent and 16 pe r cent respectively, and Cambodia, where exports 
(mostly comprised of clothing) expanded at an average rate of 14 per cent per year.  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 15 
 
 
IV. SERVICES 
Table 6:  Commercial services trade of de veloping region and selected economies, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
 Exports  Imports  
 Value  Annual percentage 
change  Value  Annual percentage 
change 
  2003   2000-03 2002 2003   2003   2000-03 2002 2003 
World 1796  6.7 6.8 13.2  1782  6.6 5.3 13.5 
            Developing economies 384  4.7 5.5 8.7  437  4.1 2.5 9.5 
Latin America 61  0.2 -2.7 6.8  68  -1.5 -8.6 4.4 
Mexico 13  -2.5 -0.6 0.8  18  1.9 3.1 3.8 
Other Latin America 48  1.0 -3 .3 8.4  50  -2.6 -12.2 4.7 
Africa 39  8.3 4.3 21.3  48  7.6 5.3 15.8 
Middle East 30  -0.3 -2.7 9.6  56  6.8 0.9 22.8 
Developing Asia 254  6.1 8.9 7.3  265  4.6 5.7 7.3 
NICS (6) 158  3.0 5.8 4.8  152  2.3 4.6 5.0 
China 46  15.4 19.7 17. 8  55  15.2 18.1 19.0 
Other 49  9.2 10.8 6.8  58  2.7 -0.3 3.8 
Memorandum items            
Developed Countries 1343  7.1 7.0 14.5  1267  7.0 5.9 14.7 
Transition Economies 69  11.4 10.3 15.7  78  15.4 14.2 17.3 
LDC (50) 8  7.1 5.9 16.8  18  10.5 7.2 12.7 
                        
 
 30. In 2003, the value of trade in commercial services of developing economies was 2.5 times 
larger than in 1990.  However, the share of devel oping economies in world trade in services declined 
over the period 2000-2003 as a result of smaller year on year increases compared to the rest of the world.  Table 6 shows that while world exports of commercial services increased by 7 per cent 
annually on average between 2000 and 2003, deve loping economies' exports only increased by 
5 per cent per year.  This contrasted with the 199 0s, when the increase in developing economies' trade 
in services was on average more pronounced compared to developed countries. 
31. In 2003, developing economies' trade in comme rcial services expanded by 9 per cent which 
contrasted with the dynamic situation in trans ition economies (17 per cent) and developed countries 
(15 per cent).  In 2003, commercial services ex ports of developing economies accounted for 
US$384 billion and imports for US$437 billion, representing respectively 21 per cent and 25 per cent of world exports and imports of commercial servic es.  Although developing  economies remained net 
importers of commercial services in 2003, this negative balance has reduced sharply since 1995.  
Available data and estimates for least-developed countries suggest that their trade in commercial 
services grew by 14 per cent in 2003 (17 per cent for exports and 13 per cent for imports). 
32. Despite developing economies' overall below-aver age performance since 2000, bilateral trade 
information available for 2002 for the European Communities, the United States and Japan show that 
the market share of developing economies in these three countries' trade in services (which account 
for more than half of world trade in services) remained stable.  Approximately one quarter of 
European Communities (15) trade (excluding intra-tr ade), one-third of US trade, and 40 per cent of 
Japanese trade (exports plus imports) took place with developing economies.  
33. Trends in exports and imports of commerc ial services of developing economies differed 
significantly by main services categories.  Developing economies' receipts from transportation services rose by 13 per cent, to US$98 billion in 2003.  Travel receipts are estimated to have stagnated 
at US$128 billion in 2003 as the contraction in develo ping Asia (-9 per cent mainly due to the SARS WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 16  
 
epidemic) was balanced by a rise in receipts in Afri ca (25 per cent) and Latin America (8 per cent).  
Other commercial services exports from developing ec onomies rose by 14 per cent to US$157 billion.  
While transportation and other commercial services imports grew respectively by 17 per cent and 
9 per cent in 2003, travel expenditures stagnated. 
Chart 14:  Developing economies' trade in commercial services by region and selected 
economies, 2000-03 
(Percentage) 
 
2000
Developing 
Asia
62%China
15%Latin 
America
18%Africa
10%Middle 
East
11%NICs (6)
65%
Other 
developing 
Asia
21%2003
Middle 
East
11%
Africa
11%
Latin 
America
16%China
20%
Developing 
Asia
63%NICs (6)
60%
Other 
developing 
Asia
21%
 
Note :  Shares may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 
 
34. After a large decrease in 2002, Latin America' s exports and imports of commercial services 
recovered in 2003, reaching US$61 b illion and US$68 billion respectivel y.  The export recovery was 
mainly due to the growth of transportation (13 per cent) and of travel receipts (8 per cent).  A number of countries in the region had a good trade perform ance in 2003, notably the strong recovery in 
Argentina, and the growth of exports in Chile, th e Dominican Republic or Panama.  The increase in 
total commercial services exports of Latin Ameri ca remained below the average of other groups 
because of the stagnation or decline in a number of  other countries in the region.  Mexico, the largest 
trader of the region, recorded a stagnation of servi ces exports in 2003 due, as in previous years, to the 
continued drop of other commercial services.  Co lombia's and Venezuela's services exports also 
continued to decline. Consequently, in 2003 La tin America's overall contribution to developing 
economies' trade in services was, at 16 per cent,  two percentage points below the 2000 level (see 
Chart 14). 
35. Available information indicates that Africa wa s, on average, the most dynamic region over 
the period 2000-2003 in terms of exports of services.  Africa's performance was particularly strong in 
2003.  Transportation and other commercial serv ices increased respectively by 17 per cent and 
19 per cent.  Travel receipts increased by 25 per cen t (two times faster than global travel receipts) 
notably due to the performances of travel destin ations such as Egypt (22 per cent growth) and 
Morocco (22 per cent), as well as South Africa (46 pe r cent, which can partly be explained by the 
appreciation of the Rand vis-à-vis  the US dollar).  African imports, which also showed an above 
average growth rate, increased less rapidly than ex ports in 2003 (16 per cent compared to 21 per cent). 
36. After two years of decline, commercial servi ces trade in the Middle East recorded strong 
growth in 2003, although travel receipts stagnated.  In Israel, the regions largest trader in commercial 
services, exports recovered in 2003.  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 17 
 
 
37. Among developing Asian economies, which account  for the largest share of developing 
economies' trade in commercial services, China's shar e increased while that of  the NICs (6) decreased. 
Developing Asia's exports expa nded by 7 per cent to US$254 billion in 2003.  Exports of 
transportation services and other commercial services rose by 12 per cent and 16 per cent respectively 
in 2003.  The SARS epidemic resulted in a decrease of travel receipts for China;  Hong Kong, China;  
Malaysia;  the Republic of Korea;  Singapore and Ch inese Taipei.  The share of the NICs (6) in trade 
in commercial services of developing economies dete riorated from 40 per cent to 38 per cent between 
2000 and 2003 in favour of China, which gained 3 percentage points.  China's trade rose by more than 
15 per cent per year over the period (mostly trans portation and other business services), significantly 
above the average for developing economies in As ia.  India's exports of commercial services 
continued growing, but less rapidly than in the past, except for software services, which expanded 
considerably in 2003 (36 per cent).  The latter ser vices now account for half of India's exports of 
commercial services (US$25 billion).  The decrea se of India's imports of commercial services 
accelerated in 2003. 
 
V. LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCs)8 
Chart 15:  Merchandise trade of least-developed countries, 1990-2003 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
01020304050607080
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 20030.00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.8
exports imports
share in world exports (right-hand scale) share in world imports (right-hand scale)
 
38. Following five years of steady growth, the partic ipation of LDCs in world trade, measured as 
their share in world exports, decreased slightly to  0.6 per cent in 2003 (see Chart 15).  The aggregate 
export performance of LDCs in 2002 and 2003 has been  positive, with growth rates of 8 per cent and 
13 per cent respectively.  Between 1995 and 2000, the average growth rate of exports was 8 per cent, 
whereas the growth rate of imports was 4 per cent.  This trend, however, appears to be reversing, 
since the growth rates for imports exceed those of exports in the years 2001 and 2003.  In 2003, 
imports grew at 20 per cent, compared to a growth rate of 13 per cent for exports. 
39. The aggregate growth rates hide a substantia l variation in export performance across LDCs.  
The growth rate of oil exports, the most important  export in terms of value, was 16 per cent and that 
of manufactures and commodities was 9 per cent and 12 per cent respectively (see Annex Table 4).  
The growth rate of commodities exports varied  considerably across commodity exporters.  
Sierra Leone, for instance, posted an 88 per cent growth rate, whereas exports from the Democratic 
                                                      
8 For additional information, see document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/35. WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 18  
 
Republic of Congo shrank by 28 per cent.  In c ontrast, among oil and manufactures exporters, only 
Yemen (10 per cent) and Myanmar (-15 per cent) post ed lower growth rates than the LDC average. 
40. Data on the exports of commercial services origin ating from LDCs are not widely available.  
However, estimations suggest that in 2002, LDCs  accounted for 0.4 per cent of world trade in 
commercial services.  Seventy per cent of this value was in the transport and travel sectors.  In 1995, 
these two sectors accounted for 62 per cent of total services exports. 
41. While concentration levels of exports are hi gh, the leading export product for each country 
differs across LDCs.  In 1995, food was the most  important export, representing 21.7 per cent of total 
exports, followed closely by fuels, representing 21.5 per cent.  By 2002, fuel was the most important export, representing 33.8 per cent of exports, wh ile clothing became the second most important 
representing 19.7 per cent of total exports.  Food came fourth, behind the aggregate category of all 
other products.  Much of this significant shift is due  to changes in oil prices, but at the same time, it 
also represents significant increases in LDCs' clothing exports. 
42. In terms of specific country markets, the EC and the United States continue to be the most 
important destinations for LDC e xports.  Although the EC's share of total LDC exports declined in 
2003, to 31.6 per cent from 34.5 per cent in 2002, th e EC is still the most important market (see 
Annex Table 5).  The US share of total LDC expor ts at around a quarter of LDC exports, is largely 
unchanged.  China is the third most important ma rket and after that the top ten markets have 
approximately the same share.  These markets are:  Thailand;  Japan;  India;  Republic of Korea;  
Chinese Taipei;  Canada and Singapore.  
43. Western Europe and North America differ in th eir importance as importers of agricultural 
products.
9  In 2002, Western Europe absorbed 36 per cen t of total LDC agricultural exports, whereas 
North America imported 7 per cent.  Western Europe  is also an important destination for fish 
products, absorbing 58 per cent of LDC exports.  In  comparison, North America imported 34 per cent 
of total LDC non-agricultural exports.10  In terms of broad categories, North America is a more 
important market than Western Europe for clothing and fuels.  The two regions combine together to 
import 97 per cent of total LDC exports of clothing.  Asia's importance as a market is predominantly 
for exports of agricultural and fuel products, acc ounting respectively for 34 per cent and 47 per cent 
of total LDC exports.  
                                                      
9 Defined as in the WTO Agreement in Agriculture.   
10 Fish and fish products are not listed in the definition of products covered under the WTO Agreement 
on Agriculture.   WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 19 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
    
 
 
ANNEXES WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 20  
 
Annex Chart 1 
Merchandise trade of Latin American countries, 2000-03 
(Annual average % change) 
 
Exports
- 1 0- 5 0 5 1 01 52 0Antigua and BarbudaArgentinaArubaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBoliviaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsChileColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsGrenadaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasJamaicaMexicoMontserratNetherlands AntillesNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSurinameTrinidad and TobagoUruguayVenezuela
 WorldImports
- 1 0- 5 0 5 1 01 52 0Antigua and BarbudaArgentinaArubaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBoliviaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsChileColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsGrenadaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasJamaicaMexicoMontserratNetherlands AntillesNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSurinameTrinidad and TobagoUruguayVenezuela
World
 
Note :  Changes higher than 20% and lower than -10% are shown as respectively 20% and -10%. 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 21 
 
 
Annex Chart 1  (cont'd) 
Merchandise trade of African countries, 2000-03 
(Annual average % change) 
Exports
- 1 0- 5 0 5 1 01 52 0AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadComorosCongoCongo, Dem. Rep. ofCôte d'IvoireDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSudanSwazilandTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe
WorldImports
- 1 0- 5 0 5 1 01 52 0AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadComorosCongoCongo, Dem. Rep. ofCôte d'IvoireDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSudanSwazilandTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe
World
 
Note :  Changes higher than 20% and lower than -10% are shown as respectively 20% and -10%.  WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 22  
 
Annex Chart 1  (cont'd) 
Merchandise trade of Middle East countries, 2000-03 
(Annual average % change) 
 
Exports
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20BahrainIran, Islamic Rep.
ofIraqIsraelJordanKuwaitLebanonOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSyrian Arab
RepublicUnited Arab
EmiratesYemen
 WorldImports
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20BahrainIran, Islamic Rep.
ofIraqIsraelJordanKuwaitLebanonOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSyrian Arab
RepublicUnited Arab
EmiratesYemen
 World
 
Note :  Changes higher than 20% and lower than -10% are shown as respectively 20% and -10%.  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 23 
 
 
Annex Chart 1  (cont'd) 
Merchandise trade of Developing Asian economies, 2000-03 
(Annual average % change) 
 
Exports
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20AfghanistanAmerican SamoaBangladeshBhutanBrunei DarussalamCambodiaChinaCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaGuamHong Kong, ChinaIndiaIndonesiaKiribatiKorea, Dem. People's Rep. ofKorea, Republic ofLao People's Dem. Rep.Macao, ChinaMalaysiaMaldivesMarshall IslandsMicronesiaMongoliaMyanmarNauruNepalNew CaledoniaNiuePacific IslandsPakistanPapua New GuineaPhilippinesSamoaSingaporeSolomon IslandsSri LankaChinese TaipeiThailandTongaTuvaluVanuatuViet Nam
 WorldImports
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20AfghanistanAmerican SamoaBangladeshBhutanBrunei DarussalamCambodiaChinaCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaGuamHong Kong, ChinaIndiaIndonesiaKiribatiKorea, Dem. People's Rep. ofKorea, Republic ofLao People's Dem. Rep.Macao, ChinaMalaysiaMaldivesMarshall IslandsMicronesiaMongoliaMyanmarNauruNepalNew CaledoniaNiuePacific IslandsPakistanPapua New GuineaPhilippinesSamoaSingaporeSolomon IslandsSri LankaChinese TaipeiThailandTongaTuvaluVanuatuViet Nam
 World
 
Note :  Changes higher than 20% and lower than -10% are shown as respectively 20% and -10%. 
 WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 24  
 
Annex Table 1  
Export prices of primary commodities, 2000-03
 
(Indices 2000=100) 
 2000 2001 2002 2003   2000 2001 2002 2003 
Food and beverages 100 100 103 108  Agricultural raw materials 100 95 97 100 
Food 100 102 103 109  Timber 100 92 91 95 
Cereals 100 104 119 121  Cotton 100 81 78 107 
Wheat 100 111 130 128  Wool 100 94 121 140 
Maize 100 102 113 119  Rubber 100 83 111 157 
Rice 100 85 94 98  Hides and skins 100 105 101 85 Barley 100 122 141 136  Minerals and non-ferrous metals    
  Vegetable oils and protein meals 100 98 110 129  (excluding crude petroleum) 100 90 88 98 
Meat 100 108 102 105  Copper 100 87 86 98 
Beef 100 110 109 102  Aluminium 100 93 87 92 Lamb 100 115 129 142  Iron ore 100 104 102 109 Swine Meat 100 104 80 90  Tin 100 83 75 90 
Poultry 100 107 106 111  Nickel 100 69 79 112 
Seafood 100 88 76 79  Zinc 100 79 69 73 
Fish 100 79 81 82  Lead 100 105 100 113 
Shrimp 100 101 69 75  Uranium 100 104 119 136 
Sugar 100 101 86 94  Total of above 100 96 97 103 Bananas 100 138 125 89  Energy 100 89 88 103 Oranges 100 164 155 188  Natural Gas 100 98 80 105 
Beverages 100 84 99 103  Crude petroleum 100 86 88 102 
Coffee 100 71 71 78  Coal 100 124 102 107 Cocoa beans 100 120 197 194       Tea 100 80 72 78  All primary commodities 100 91 91 103 
                    
 
   
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 25 
 
 
Annex Table 2  
Most dynamic products in developing economies' exports, 2000-03 
(Million dollars and percentage) 
 
Product description Values  Annual 
percentage 
change  Share of 
developing 
economies in world 
   2000 2003   2000-2003   2000 2003 
871 Optical instruments and apparatus, n.e.s. 3665 13842   56   30 59 
072 Cocoa 2674 5840   30   68 71 
515 Organo-inorganic compounds, heteroclyclic 
compounds, nucleic acids and their salts 4017 8572   29   8 14 
222 Oil seeds and oleaginous fr uits of a king used for 
the extraction of "soft"  fixed vegetables oils 
(excluding flours and meals) 4341 8306   24   32 43 
763 Sound recorders or reproducers; television image 
and sound recorders or reproducers; prepared 
unrecorded media 12841 24340   24   52 57 
793 Ships, boats (including hovercraft) and floating 
structures 5438 9545   21   39 46 
971 Gold, non monetary (excluding gold ores and 
concentrates) 6961 11767   19   37 49 
761 Television receivers (inc luding video monitors and 
video projectors), whether or not combined, in the 
same housing, with radiobroadcast receivers or sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus 11358 16633   14   50 53 
784 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of 
groups 722, 781,782 and 783 11730 16843   13   9 10 
775 Household type, electr ical and non electrical 
equipment, n.e.s. 12216 17485   13   40 44 
         
Note :  Based on SITC Rev.3 at the 3-digit level.  Figures  are based on imports reported by 33 countries and economies 
reporting their trade to the UNSD Comtrade Database. 
 
 
 WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 26  
 
Annex Table 3  
Merchandise exports of developi ng economies by region, 2000-03 
(Billion dollars)  
Destination World a  Developed Economies  Developing Economies 
     North  Western Developed   Latin   Middle  Developing Asia 
    Total America Europe Asia  Total America Africa East     
Origin                         Total China 
               
Developing  2000 1872  1143 554 355 234  694 97 44 55 499 78 
   Economies 2003 2191  1254 590 411 252  837 95 58 69 615 144 
  Latin America 2000 361  275 223 44 8  80 61 3 3 13 4 
 2003 378  277 218 51 7  90 59 5 4 21 9 
  Africa 2000 147  105 25 75 5  40 5 14 3 19 5 
 2003 173  123 33 84 7  48 4 18 3 24 8 
      South Africa 2000 30  19 4 12 3  11 1 4 1 5 1 
 2003 36  23 4 15 4  13 0 5 1 7 2 
  Middle East 2000 267  145 43 50 53  120 3 11 20 87 10 
 2003 299  148 46 48 54  126 3 10 22 91 14 
  Developing Asia 2000 1098  617 263 186 168  454 28 16 29 381 60 
 2003 1342  705 293 229 184  572 29 25 40 478 113 
               
        of which  2000 249  170 75 45 50  67 7 5 6 48 - 
          China 2003 438  280 125 83 72  113 12 10 13 78 - 
a includes economies in transition and unspecified destinations 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 27 
 
 
Annex Table 4   
Merchandise exports and imports of least-develop ed countries by selected country grouping, 
2003 
(Million dollars and percentage) 
 
 Exports  Imports 
 Value  Annual Percentage Change  Value  Annual Percentage Change 
 2003  1995-00 2001 2002 2003  2003  1995-00 2001 2002 2003 
                            
Total LDCs 43657  8 0 8 13  55522  4 8 1 20 
Oil exporters 17592  19 -11 14 16  11210  11 16 -1 32 
Angola 8790  17 -18 15 17  4130  16 5 -7 40 Yemen 3802  16 -21 7 10  3390  8 -1 13 30 Equatorial Guinea 2640  54 67 21 19  1020  30 58 -38 132 Sudan 2360  27 -6 15 21  2670  5 51 6 7 
Exporters of manufactures 13751  11 6 2 9  19468  5 2 -6 20 
Bangladesh 6942  11 -5 0 14  9476  5 0 -5 20 Myanmar 2600  14 45 28 -15  2600  12 20 -18 11 Cambodia 1690  6 15 11 17  1715  4 2 11 6 Nepal 662  18 -8 -23 17  1754  3 -6 -4 24 
Madagascar 655  10 13 -48 35  1190  10 -4 -37 97 
Lesotho 477  7 28 29 31  1021  -6 -6 15 30 Lao People's Dem. Rep. 378  1 0 -10 27  524  -2 -1 -18 22 Haiti 347  24 -14 2 24  1188  10 -2 12 5 
Exporters of commodities 12314  -3 12 8 12  24845  1 10 8 16 
Senegal 1331  -2 9 6 25  2364  1 14 13 21 
Tanzania 1222  -1 17 13 40  2193  -2 12 -1 30 
Zambia 940  -9 48 -6 1  1503  7 32 -4 20 Mali 930  5 32 22 5  1251  1 23 -12 44 Mozambique 880  17 93 -3 29  1365  10 -8 27 1 Guinea 824  3 10 21 -7  820  -6 -2 19 15 
Congo, Dem. Rep. of 815  -14 24 20 -28  1750  -2 16 37 20 
Uganda 562  0 -1 -3 27  1252  8 4 -30 13 Benin 541  -1 -5 20 21  758  -4 -10 23 12 Ethiopia 535  3 -6 5 11  2015  2 44 -8 21 Malawi 463  -1 18 -9 14  702  2 6 19 5 Togo 440  -1 -2 20 3  568  -1 -2 7 -4 
Mauritania 420  -6 -3 11 9  500  -9 20 19 12 
Niger 339  0 -4 3 22  551  1 -6 8 38 Burkina Faso 315  5 12 1 33  855  6 7 13 16 Chad 260  -6 3 -2 41  852  -3 114 47 -15 Liberia 230  -17 -26 -7 1  560  6 -7 -5 -5 
Somalia 202  -1 5 15 20  180  3 -6 8 -20 
Afghanistan 135  3 -49 -5 50  1190  8 0 73 25 Central African Republic 130  -1 -12 4 -12  115  -8 -9 12 -4 Bhutan 120  2 -12 10 11  200  13 -6 -14 21 Maldives 113  9 0 18 26  471  8 1 0 20 Sierra Leone 92  -21 123 69 88  303  2 22 45 15 
Djibouti 85  15 1 9 2  305  5 -6 6 13 
Solomon Islands 75  -16 -32 23 29  67  -10 -12 -42 43 Guinea-Bissau 69  21 2 -14 28  140  -15 25 41 35 Rwanda 60  -1 63 -34 7  240  -2 18 -19 18 Eritrea 56  -16 -49 174 8  670  1 -10 27 25 
Burundi 38  -14 -22 -23 27  157  -9 -6 -7 22 
Vanuatu 27  -1 4 -26 35  105  -1 4 -4 18 Samoa 15  9 14 -13 7  137  2 23 4 1 Comoros 15  -9 71 8 15  125  3 18 11 33 Gambia 13  -1 -33 30 0  185  1 -28 10 25 Cape Verde 12  7 -9 10 9  305  -2 2 18 11 
Sao Tome and Principe 7  -10 0 67 40  42  1 -7 11 35 
Kiribati 3  -11 25 -40 0  40  3 2 5 -7 Tuvalu 0  0 ... ... ...  9  -11 -20 175 -18 Timor Leste ...  ... ... ... ...  ...  ... ... ... ... 
Memorandum item:              
World  
a 6481000  5 -4 5 16  6714000  5 -4 4 16 
                            
a  Includes significant re-exports or imports for re-export.  
Note :  Data for 2003 are largely estimated.           WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 28  
 
Annex Table 5  
Merchandise imports from least-developed  countries by selected economies, 2002-03 
(Million dollars) 
 
Imports from LDCs  Share in total 
Importers 2002 2003   2002 2003 
All reporters (world) 37794 44914  100.0 100.0 
EC(15) 13057 14186  34.5 31.6 
United States 959 1 11525  25.4 25.7 
China 3502 6268  9.3 14.0 
Thailand ... 2346  ... 5.2 
Japan 1591 1584  4.2 3.5 
      
India 1312 ...  3.5 ... 
Korea, Republic of 990 ...  2.6 ... 
Chinese Taipei 870 999  2.3 2.2 
Canada 403 771  1.1 1.7 
Singapore 547 508  1.4 1.1 
      
Saudi Arabia 445 ...  1.2 ... 
Malaysia 438 361  1.2 0.8 
Indonesia 221 293  0.6 0.7 
South Africa  a 252 238  0.7 0.5 
Hong Kong, China 237 225  0.6 0.5 
            
a   Excluding trade with Lesotho.  
Source :  UNSD Comtrade Database. 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 29 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
    
 
 
APPENDIX WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 30  
 
Mexico 
(185,000)
PeruBrazil
Argentina
Venezuela
ColombiaChile
01000020000300004000050000600007000080000Trade of merchandise and services, 2000-03
(Million dollars, exports plus imports divided by two)
BarbadosAntigua and 
Barbuda
ChileMexicoBelizTrinidad and 
TobagoSaint Kitts 
and Nevis
Costa RicaAruba 
(14000)
BahamasNetherlands 
Antilles 
(16000)
010002000300040005000600070008000900010000Trade of merchandise and services per capita, 2000-03
(Dollars, average of exports and imports divided by population)Appendix Chart 1 
Latin America.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
Exports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Brazil
VenezuelaBarbadosBelize
DominicaEcuador
ChilePeru
CubaJamaicaParaguay
Bolivia
Bahamas
GrenadaAntigua and 
BarbudaHaiti
-20-15-10-5051015Imports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
BrazilChileColombia
Cuba
UruguayHonduras
Antigua and 
BarbudaDominicaSuriname
BoliviaHaitiEcuador
(21)
Dominican 
RepublicSaint Vincent 
and the 
GrenadinesGuatemala
ArgentinaVenezuela
-20-15-10-5051015
Exports of commercial services , 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
VenezuelaPanama
ParaguayBoliviaBelize
UruguayColombiaMexicoGuatemala
SurinamChile
ArgentinaHaitiHonduras
-20-15-10-5051015
n.a n.a n.aImports of commercial services, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Mexico
BrazilChile
Peru
ParaguayBolivia
Venezuela
ArgentinaUruguayAruba
GrenadaGuatemala
JamaicaBelize
Dominican 
Republic
-20-15-10-5051015
n.a
Note :  Countries are ranked in descending order (from left to right) of the sum of exports and imports in 2000-03. 
          See Appendix Table 1.n.an.a
 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 31 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  Appendix Table 1  
Latin America.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
(Value and percentage change)  
Merchandise and  Trade
commercial services  per
trade  a capita bMerchandise Commercial services
(Million dollars)  (dollars) Exports Imports Exports  Imports
2000-2003  2000-2003 2000-03 2000-03 2000-03  2000-03
Mexico  185512  1840 0 -1 -3 2
Brazil 69938  401 10 -5 2 -2
Argentina  27272  748 4 -18 -6 -16
Chile 23313  1495 3 2 6 5
Venezuela  22795  909 -9 -17 -9 -10
Colombia  15226  348 -1 6 -4 0
Peru 9573 358 8 5 1 4
Dominican Republic  9257 1075 -2 -6 2 -5
Costa Rica  7816 1983 1 6 1 -1
Ecuador  6471 505 7 21 4 6
Guatemala  5146 429 -1 12 15 10
El Salvador  4941 770 2 5 5 1
Cuba 4521 401 -4 -1 ... ...
Trinidad and Tobago  4342 3330 2 3 ... ...
Jamaica  4072 1556 -3 3 1 5
Panama  3637 1237 0 -3 9 5
Netherlands Antilles  3505 16007 0 -6 1 3
Uruguay  3209 955 -1 -14 -16 -12
Honduras  2710 399 -1 5 5 5
Bahamas  2626 8362 -5 -4 ... ...
Paraguay  1971 358 14 -2 -4 -6
Bolivia  1899 216 9 -4 9 6
Nicaragua  1476 276 -2 1 5 2
Barbados  1425 5299 -8 -1 0 2
Aruba  1355 13966 -3 3 3 3
Haiti 988 119 3 5 -3 2
Guyana  720 939 1 0 ... ...
Suriname  637 1472 3 10 -15 2
Belize  489 1933 6 7 10 5
Antigua and Barbuda  476 6226 -17 -9 1 3
Saint Lucia  407 2556 -2 -1 2 1
Grenada  243 2345 -18 0 -1 -4
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  205 1880 -7 7 3 3
Saint Kitts and Nevis  201 4293 0 7 -2 -1
Dominica  152 2081 -10 -5 -1 3
a   Average of exports and imports.
b   Average of exports and imports divided by population.Percentage change  WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 32  
 
NigeriaEgyptAlgeria
Libyan Arab 
JamahiriyaTunisiaMoroccoSouth Africa 
(37191)
0500010000150002000025000300003500040000Trade of merchandise and services, 2000-03
(Million dollars, exports plus imports divided by two)
SwazilandMauritius
TunisiaGabonLibyan Arab 
JamahiriyaSeychelles (6800) Equatorial Guinea
Lesotho
DjiboutiCape Verde
0500100015002000250030003500Trade of merchandise and services per capita, 2000-03
(Dollars, average of exports and imports divided by population)Appendix Chart 2
Africa.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
Exports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Mali
BurundiEquatorial 
Guinea
ZimbabweTunisiaTanzania
SomaliaEritrea GhanaLesothoMozambique
Sao Tome and 
PrincipeSierra 
Leone(92) 
Madagascar
LiberiaComoros
Chad
-15-10-505101520253035Imports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Liberia UgandaMauritaniaGuinea-BissauChad(39)
MaliEquatorial 
Guinea
Somalia
EgyptAlgeriaCôte d'IvoireSudan
-15-10-505101520253035
Note:   Countries are ranked in descending order (from left to right) of the sum of exports and imports in 2000-03.  
            See Appendix Table 2.
 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 33 
 
 
 
 
 Appendix Table 2  
Africa.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
(Value and percentage change)  
Merchandise and  Trade
commercial services per
trade  a capita bMerchandise Commercial services
(Million dollars)  (dollars) Exports Imports Exports  Imports
2000-2003  2000-2003 2000-03 2000-03 2000-03  2000-03
South Africa  37191  820 7 11 9 9
Algeria  17943  573 4 12 ... ...
Egypt 16736  252 10 -8 4 -6
Nigeria  16642  125 -1 8 10 12
Morocco  12885  435 6 7 21 16
Tunisia  10217  1045 11 8 -2 7
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya  9062 1663 6 11 ... ...
Angola  7288 555 4 11 ... ...
Côte d'Ivoire  4989 302 15 17 ... ...
Kenya  3406 109 12 6 ... ...
Ghana  3048 153 14 3 ... ...
Mauritius  2930 2417 8 4 6 5
Botswana  2813 1643 2 6 ... ...
Cameroon  2565 163 9 14 13 13
Sudan  2486 76 9 20 76 1
Congo  2287 44 7 19 15 19
Gabon  2197 1671 1 3 2 3
Zimbabwe  2118 163 -15 16 ... ...
Tanzania  1982 56 23 13 ... ...
Senegal  1902 190 13 16 ... ...
Namibia  1694 853 -1 8 17 -3
Equatorial Guinea  1656 3436 34 31 37 22
Ethiopia  1585 24 3 17 ... ...
Mozambique  1366 74 34 6 -2 8
Zambia  1312 128 12 15 ... ...
Uganda  1308 53 7 -7 ... ...
Congo, Dem. Rep. of  1283 351 2 24 ... ...
Swaziland  1164 1070 0 -1 ... ...
Mali 1142 100 19 16 ... ...
Madagascar  1135 69 -7 6 ... ...
Guinea  848 110 7 10 ... ...
Benin 716 109 11 7 ... ...
Chad 693 83 12 39 30 32
Malawi  634 59 7 10 12 1
Lesotho  609 343 29 12 ... ...
Togo 585 123 7 0 ... ...
Burkina Faso  574 49 15 12 ... ...
Seychelles  568 6887 13 8 ... ...
Liberia  518 157 -11 -6 ... ...
Mauritania  517 197 5 17 ... ...
Niger 455 40 6 12 ... ...
Eritrea  350 81 15 12 ... ...
Cape Verde  276 603 3 10 28 27
Somalia  268 29 13 -6 ... 7
Djibouti  244 351 4 4 ... ...
Rwanda  231 28 5 4 ... ...
Sierra Leone  199 38 92 27 ... ...
Central African Republic  182 48 -7 -1 -12 -7
Gambia  147 106 -5 0 -1 0
Burundi  110 16 -9 2 31 5
Guinea-Bissau  95 66 4 33 ... ...
Comoros  79 135 29 20 ... ...
Sao Tome and Principe  31 198 33 12 ... ...
a   Average of exports and imports.
b   Average of exports and imports divided by population.Percentage change  WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 34  
 
YemenOmanKuwait
Bahrain
JordanLebanon 
QatarSyrian Arab 
Republic
Iraq Saudi Arabia
Iran, Islamic 
Rep. ofIsraelUnited Arab 
Emirates
010000200003000040000500006000070000Trade of merchandise and services, 2000-03
(Million dollars, exports plus imports divided by two)
Israel
Iran, Islamic 
Rep. ofKuwait
Oman
Jordan
YemenSaudi
 Arabia
Iraq BahrainQatar (15000) United Arab 
Emirates 
(13000)
010002000300040005000600070008000900010000Trade of merchandise and services per capita, 2000-03
(Dollars, average of exports and imports divided by population)Appendix Chart 3
Middle East.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
Exports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Israel
KuwaitSyrian Arab 
Republic
BahrainJordan
Saudi 
ArabiaIran, Islamic 
Rep. of
QatarUnited Arab 
Emirates
Oman
YemenLebanon 
Iraq -15-10-5051015202530Imports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
United Arab 
EmiratesIran, Islamic 
Rep. of
Kuwait
Oman
BahrainJordanYemen
LebanonSaudi 
ArabiaSyrian Arab 
Republic
IsraelQatar
-15-10-5051015202530
Iraq (16)Note:   Countries are ranked in descending order (from left to right) of the sum of exports and imports in 2000-03.
             See Appendix Table 3.
 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 35 
 
 
 
 
 Appendix Table 3  
Middle East.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
(Value and percentage change)  
Merchandise and  Trade
commercial services  per
trade  a capita bMerchandise Commercial services
(Million dollars)  (dollars) Exports Imports Exports  Imports
2000-2003  2000-2003 2000-03 2000-03 2000-03  2000-03
Saudi Arabia  61864  2827 4 6 4 -10
United Arab Emirates  48607  12948 10 10 ... ...
Israel 45476  6926 0 -1 -7 -2
Iran, Islamic Rep. of  26792  409 9 21 ... ...
Kuwait  16265  6987 0 15 0 10
Iraq c 13330  551 -15 -16 ... ...
Oman  9595 3781 2 9 ... ...
Qatar 9260 15181 3 22 ... ...
Syrian Arab Republic  6398 377 6 9 -2 12
Bahrain  6281 8999 1 3 4 6
Jordan  5254 1016 18 7 -3 0
Lebanon c  3912 881 29 5 ... ...
Yemen  3649 196 -2 13 ... ...
a   Average of exports and imports.
b   Average of exports and imports divided by population.c   Merchandise trade only.
 Percentage change  WT/COMTD/W/136 
Page 36  
 
ThailandSingapore
Chinese Taipei
MalaysiaHong Kong, 
China
Korea, Rep. ofChina
050000100000150000200000250000300000350000400000Trade of merchandise and services, 2000-03
(Million dollars, exports plus imports divided by two)
Macao, China 
(11000)Singapore 
(37000)
Malaysia
Maldives
TongaFijiChinese Taipei
Hong Kong, 
China (36000)Brunei 
Darussalam
010002000300040005000600070008000900010000Trade of merchandise and services per capita, 2000-03
(Dollars, average of exports and imports divided by population)Appendix Chart 4
Developing Asia.  Merchandise and commercial services trade, 2000-03
Exports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
China
Philippines
AfghanistanHong Kong, 
ChinaMaldives
PakistanMyanmar
Nepal KiribatiTonga
Cambodia
Viet Nam
-15-10-5051015202530Imports of merchandise, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Fiji
Sri Lanka
Solomon 
IslandsChinese Taipei China
Viet NamAfghanistan
IndiaBrunei 
Darussalam
Tonga
-15-10-5051015202530
Exports of commercial services , 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
MaldivesTonga
China
NepalPhilippinesMacao, 
China
IndiaMongolia 
(39)
-15-10-5051015202530
Solomon 
Islands 
(-20)Imports of commercial services, 2000-03
(Annual percentage change)
Tonga
Solomon 
Islands
Sri LankaMacao, 
ChinaChinaMongolia 
(31)
Philippines
Papua New 
GuineaKorea 
Rep. ofPakistan
-15-10-5051015202530
n.n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a
Note:   Economies are ranked in descending order (from left to right) of the sum of exports and imports in 2000-03.
           See Appendix Table 4n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a
 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/136 
 Page 37 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________ Appendix Table 4  
Developing Asia.  Merchandise and Commercial Services trade, 2000-03
(Value and percentage change)  
Merchandise and  Trade
commercial services  per
trade a capita bMerchandise Commercial services
(Million dollars)  (dollars) Exports Imports Exports  Imports
2000-2003  2000-2003 2000-03 2000-03 2000-03  2000-03
China 347537  271 21 22 15 15
Hong Kong, China  243382  35860 4 3 5 1
Korea, Republic of  195916  4112 4 4 2 6
Singapore  156182  37508 2 -2 2 0
Chinese Taipei  153878  6841 0 -3 5 -1
Malaysia  102447  4215 0 0 -1 1
Thailand  83788 1360 5 7 4 6
India 74317 71 10 11 13 3
Indonesia  56690 268 -1 -1 ... ...
Philippines  40931 512 -3 2 -9 -11
Viet Nam  20959 261 12 17 ... ...
Pakistan  12565 87 10 6 5 14
Bangladesh  8348 62 3 4 13 3
Sri Lanka  6950 366 -2 -2 15 -14
Macao, China  5016 11427 1 7 17 9
Brunei Darussalam  3256 9276 1 12 ... ...
Myanmar  2892 59 16 3 ... ...
Papua New Guinea  1946 362 1 4 -3 -15
Cambodia  1916 145 15 6 ... ...
Nepal 1368 57 -6 4 -13 1
Fiji 1107 1345 1 9 ... ...
Mongolia  767 313 3 9 39 31
Afghanistan  503 18 -10 29 ... ...
Lao People's Dem. Rep.  489 88 5 -1 ... ...
Maldives  487 1696 14 7 5 3
Bhutan  184 217 3 0 ... ...
Vanuatu  154 747 1 6 ... ...
Solomon Islands  110 249 3 -10 -20 -11
Samoa  104 591 2 9 ... ...
Tonga 69 686 24 10 20 26
Kiribati  40 420 -9 0 ... ...
a   Average of exports and imports.
b   Average of exports and imports divided by population.Percentage change