WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/NG/S/6
23 May 2000
(00-2147)
Committee on Agriculture
Special Session
AGRICULTURAL TRADE PERFORMANCE BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
1990-98
Background Paper by the Secretariat
1. At the first Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture which took place on
23-24 March 2000, it was agreed that the Secretariat would prepare a background paper on the
agricultural trade performance of developing c ountries (G/AG/NG/1, paragraph 7(b) refers).  The
present paper revises and further updates the information first provided within the framework of the
Process of Analysis and Information Exchange  as documents AIE/S10 dated 19 June 1998 and
AIE/S10/Rev.1 dated 17 February 1999.  As was the ca se in AIE/S10/Rev.1, this paper also includes a
separate section on the trade performance of least-developed countries.
2. The paper is organized in four Sections:
(i) Section I  provides information on developing countries' exports of agricultural
products, mining products and manufactures, and related world market shares.
(ii) In Section II the regional pattern of agricultural exports from Africa, developing
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East is presented, including
information on intra-developing country trade.  This Section also provides data on
agricultural imports of developed countries from all origins as well as from
developing countries.
(iii) Section III  takes a look at developing countri es' agricultural exports by product
group. The products specified in the Section were selected on the basis of theirrespective ranking, in value terms, in total agricultural exports of the three developing
regions (Africa, developing Asia, Latin America and Caribbean countries) under
consideration for the most recent year for which data was available.  As was the case
for the previous papers AIE/S10 and AIE/S10/Rev.1, each of the three developing
regions is represented by samples covering only a limited number of countries.However, for this paper a consistent time-series from 1990 to 1998 was available
allowing for one consolidated sample of countries to be set up for Africa and
developing Asia, respectively, covering the full period.  For Latin America and the
Caribbean, a complete set of data for the period 1990 to 1998 is presented for the
same fourteen countries selected in the earlier papers.  It should be noted that, for thereasons mentioned above, the number of country samples contained in this note is
smaller than that of the country samples presented in AIE/S10/Rev.1.
(iv) Section IV  provides information on the trade performance of least-developed
countries.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 2
3. The statistical information contained in this paper is based on trade values in US dollars (by
way of background information, data on agricultural world price developments are presented in
Annexes 4 and 5).  Average annual growth rates are presented for the periods 1990-94 and 1994-98.
In some cases growth rates for the period 1994-97 are also included.  Hence, information is provided
on trade performance prior to and following the start of the implementation of the Uruguay Roundresults on agriculture.  Information on data sources, area definitions and definitions of "food" and
"agricultural raw materials" is presented in Box 1 below.
Highlights
4. The following bullet points present highlights of the agricultural trade performance of
developing countries during the period under review, namely 1990 to 1998.  As shown in these bullet
points and in the relevant tables of this paper, over the period 1994 to 1997, the growth of agriculturalexports from developing countries accelerated as compared to the first half of the 1990s, i.e. prior to
the implementation of the Uruguay Round results in agriculture.  There was, however, a major
downturn beginning in mid-1997 and continuing in 1998, as the financial crises in Asia, Latin
America and Russia hit world agricultural markets, including through their depressing effect on
commodity prices.
5. Keeping these factors in mind, key features of the agricultural trade performance by
developing countries during the period under review include:
• The value of exports of agricultural products from developing countries increased from
US$114 billion in 1990 to US$167 billion in 1998 (after a record US$178 billion in 1997).
• In the first three years of the implementation of the Uruguay Round results, developing
countries' export growth was stronger than in the pre-WTO phase with an annual increase of
7.2 per cent for 1994-97 versus 6.1 per cent for 1990-94.  Reflecting the setback in 1998, the
corresponding figure for the period 1994-98 is 3.7 per cent.
• Agricultural exports of developing countries expanded more rapidly than those of the
developed countries.  As a result, the share of developing countries in world agricultural
exports, which had increased from 40 to 41½ per cent between 1990 and 1994, reached 42½per cent in 1998.
• While all developing regions contributed to the overall growth of world agricultural exports
between 1994 and 1998, Latin America and the Caribbean achieved the most dynamicperformance.  Agricultural exports from Afri ca more than kept pace with the expansion of
agricultural exports from all other origins combined.  The growth of agricultural exports fromdeveloping Asia and the Middle East lagged behind.  In the case of developing Asia, the
adverse impact of the 1997/98 financial crisis on the US$ value of agricultural exports was
apparently particularly strong.
• The overall gain in the share of developing countries in world agricultural exports between
1994 and 1998 reflects mainly their above average performance in the world market for food.
Their share in the world food market increased from 43 per cent in 1990 to 45 per cent in
1998.
• Among the four major developing regions, developing Asia is the largest agricultural exporter
with the value of its total agricultural exports amounting to US$71.3 billion in 1998, followed
by Latin America and the Caribbean (US$65.5 billion), Africa (US$20.8 billion) and the
Middle East (US$5.9 billion).  This ranking has not changed since 1990.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 3
• In 1998, the top five Latin American and Caribbean agricultural exporters (Brazil, Argentina,
Mexico, Chile, Colombia) accounted for 74 per cent of the region's total agricultural exports
(Mercosur had a share of 52 per cent in that total).  The top five developing Asian exporters
(China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India) made up for 70 per cent of developing Asia's
total agricultural exports in 1998.  The top five African countries (South Africa, Morocco,Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt) accounted for 38 per cent of Africa's total agricultural exports.
• Developing countries' import markets (and in some cases transition economies) are becoming
increasingly important as outlets for agricultural exports from developing countries.  In 1998,the share of developing countries' exports to destinations other than North America, Western
Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand was 43 per cent, up from 39½ per cent in 1990.
These destinations have thus become about as important as the import markets of Western
Europe and North America combined.
• Among the four major developed country destinations, Western Europe is the most important
market for agricultural exports from developing  countries.  However, Europe's share in total
agricultural exports from developing countries declined from 30½ per cent in 1990 to 28½ per
cent in 1994 and 28 per cent in 1998.  Japan's share also declined from 14½  to 11½ per cent
over this period.  North America, which like Japan had a share of about 15 per cent in 1990,
increased its share in total agricultural exports from developing countries to 16½  per cent in
1998.  Australia/New Zealand took about 1 per cent of total agricultural exports from
developing countries in 1998, as was the case in 1990.
• Throughout the period under review, developed countries' imports of agricultural products
from developing countries rose more rapidly than their agricultural imports from other
origins.  However, import growth during 1994-98 was lower than in the period 1990-94
(annual increase of  2 versus 6 per cent (1994-97: 4½ per cent).  In part, this reflects a less
dynamic performance of food imports from developing countries in the 1997-98 period, with
the effects of the financial crises mentioned above having played a role.  Also, developed
countries' imports of agricultural raw mate rials from developing countries, which had
expanded at an annual rate of 3½ per cent during the period 1994-97, dipped by 10½ per cent
from 1997 to 1998.
• Over the period 1994-98, the annual growth of developed countries' imports of agricultural
products from the least-developed countries increased to 2½ per cent, up from 1½ per cent for
1990-94.  For the period 1994-97, these imports had expanded at an annual rate of 6½ percent.
• The increase in the developed countries' agricultural imports from least-developed countries
from US$3.7 billion in 1994 to US$4.1 billion in 1998 (1997: US$4.5 billion) resulted froman improved performance of the least-developed countries in the agricultural raw materials
markets of the developed countries, and a good overall performance in their food  markets.
• Throughout the 1990s, food gained in importance in  the export basket of the least-developed
countries in their agricultural trade with developed countries.  In 1998, food accounted for
almost four-fifths of that trade, up from about two-thirds in 1990.  By 1998, the share of
agricultural raw materials had thus declined to 21 per cent.G/AG/NG/S/6
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Box 1
Data Sources and Definitions
Data sources
For the purposes of this paper, the Secretariat has used trade data from the WTO Statistics Division database and
the United Nations Statistical Division Comtrade database.  The data are classified on the basis of the Standard
International Trade Classification (SITC).  The paper covers the period from 1990 thro ugh the year 1998, i.e. the
fourth year of implementation of the Agreement on Agriculture.
Area definitions
This paper basically uses the area definitions  used by the WTO Statistics Division:
(i) Developed countries  - North America, EU, EFTA, Japan, and other developed countries
(Australia, New Zealand) as well as South Africa;
(ii) Developing countries   - Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa less South Africa, Europe
less EU and EFTA, the Middle East, and Asia le ss Australia, Japan, and New Zealand;  and
(iii) Economies in transition  - Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
It should be noted that in this paper, Tables specifying Africa as a developing region include South Africa,
unless otherwise noted.
Throughout the paper, the figures used for world exports exclude intra-EU trade.  World , Developing countries
and Asia totals exclude the re-exports of Hong Kong, China in order to avoid double counting.  The term
"country" or "countries" as used in this paper includes separate customs territories.
Product definitions
Product groups are defined at the 2-digit level according to Revision 2  of the Standard International Trade
Classification (SITC).  As regards Agricultural Products , this paper uses the WTO Statistics Division
classification which defines agricultural products as covering food and agricultural raw materials.
Food  includes:  food and live animals;  beverages and tobacco;  animal and vegetable oils;  fats and waxes;
oilseeds and oleaginous fruit (SITC sections 0, 1, 4 and division 22).
Agricultural Raw Materials  include: hides, skins and furskins, raw; crude rubber (including synthetic and
reclaimed); cork and wood; pulp and waste paper; textile fibres and their wastes; crude animal and vegetablematerials, n.e.s. (SITC divisions 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29).
It should be noted that the WTO Statistics  Division's definition of agricultural products differs from the product
coverage of the Agreement on Agriculture as defined in Annex 1 thereto
.G/AG/NG/S/6
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SECTION I:     OVERVIEW TABLES
6. The information presented in this Section is mainly based on data provided in the 1999 WTO
International Trade Statistics Report.  Where necessary, these data have been supplemented by datafrom the United Nations Comtrade database.
7. Tables I.1 and I.2 provide an overview of the value of developing countries' merchandise
exports by major product group and the growth of agricultural exports by region for the period 1990
to 1998.
8. Tables I.3 to I.5 show the shares of developing countries' exports in world merchandise
exports by region and by major product group and in world exports of agricultural products for the
same period.
Table I.1: World Merchandise Exports and Merchandise Exports of Developing Countries
by Major Product Group, 1990-98
(US$ billion)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
World
Agricultural products 284 282  301 300 348 405 423 424 394
Mining products 415 389 384 368 379 445 533 550 436
Manufactures 1,618 1,692 1,843 1,960 2,251 2,653 2,771 2,969 2,939
Developing Countries
Agricultural products 114 115 120 120 144 169 174 178 167
Mining products 254 233 232 217 218 253 307 315 239
Manufactures 412 457 513 567 684 837 882 958 941
Note: Data for World  exclude intra-EU trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
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Table I.2: Growth of the Value of Agricultural Exports by Region, 1990-98
(per cent)
1995 1996 1997 1998 90-94 94-97 94-98
Region
Annual percentage changeAverage annual growth
(per cent)
Developing countries
of which:17.1 3.0 2.1 -6.1 6.1 7.2 3.7
Africa 19.5 4.8 -1.6 -3.5 1.9 7.2 4.4
Developing Asia 15.6 -0.2 -3.5 -8.5 8.2 3.6 0.5
Latin America and the
Caribbean20.3 5.8 10.1 -3.8 5.3 11.9 7.8
Developed countries 15.9 2.0 -0.7 -7.5 4.3 5.5 2.1
Other countries 20.3 38.5 -5.9 -10.0 8.8 16.2 9.0
World 16.6 4.4 0.1 -7.1 5.2 6.8 3.2
Note: "Other Countries" include transition economies and countries not elsewhere specified.
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table I.3: Share of Developing Countries in World Agricultural Exports by Region,
1990-98 (per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Africa 5 4½ 4½  4 4 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½
Developing Asia 18 19½ 19½ 19½ 20 20 19 18½ 18
Latin America and  the Caribbean 14 13½ 13 13 14 14½ 14½ 16 16½
Middle East 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½
Other 2½ 2 1½ 2 2 1½ 1½ 1½ 2
All Developing Countries 40 41 40 40 41½ 42 41 42 42½
Note:  Data for Africa  exclude South Africa.
The figures for " Other " include European developing economies as defined by the WTO Statistics Division: Malta,
Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Yugoslaviaand territories in Western Europe n.e.s..
The shares are expressed in per cent of world agricultural exports excluding intra-EU trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 7
Table I.4: Share of Developing Countries in World Total Merchandise Exports by Major
Product Group, 1990-98
(per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Share of developing
countries in world total
merchandise exports
of which:33 33½ 33½ 33½ 34½ 35 35½ 36½ 35
Agricultural
products4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½
M i n i n g  p r o d u c t s 1 0 ½ 9 ½98778 7 ½6
Manufactures 18 19½ 20 21 23 23½ 23 24½ 24½
Note: The shares are expressed in per cent of world total merchandise exports excluding intra-EU trade.  Manufactures
include miscellaneous products not elsewhere classified.
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table I.5: Share of Developing Countries in World Exports of Food and Agricultural Raw
Materials, 1990-98
(per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Food 43 43 42  42 44 45 43 45 45
A g r i c u l t u r a l  r a w  m a t e r i a l s 3 33 43 33 33 23 43 43 33 3
Note: The shares are expressed in per cent of world exports of food and agricultural raw materials excluding intra-EU
trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 8
SECTION II:       REGIONAL PATTERN OF TRADE
9. This Section looks at the export performance of developing countries from a regional
perspective.  Tables II.1 and II.2 present the regional pattern of exports of agricultural products from
four developing regions, including intra-developi ng country trade.  Export figures of European
developing economies as defined by the WTO Statistics Division (Malta, Turkey, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia and
territories in Western Europe n.e.s.) are not included.
10. Tables II.3 and II.4 show developed reporter countries' imports, and import growth
(compound rates), of food and agricultural raw materials over the 1990-98 period.  Imports are broken
down by the origin of the trading partner, i.e. from developing countries and from the world as a
whole.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 9
Table II.1: Developing Countries ' Exports of Agricultural Products by Region and by
Destination, 1990-98 (US$ million)
Origin Destination
Year North
AmericaWestern
EuropeJapan Australia
and New
ZealandTransition
Economies  Developing
Countries
Africa 1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
19971998860
870
790
780880910
1,150
1,1701,2709,950
9,430
9,230
8,350
10,17012,680
12,610
11,63012,0401,050
1,020
930
980
1,3901,400
1,580
1,3201,13030
40
30
405080
70
9060570
400
280
350470650
650
7207803,810
4,010
4,160
4,0304,5905,250
5,920
6,7005,600
Developing Asia 1990
1991
1992199319941995
1996
199719985,160
5,700
6,3606,3507,1407,920
8,320
8,3708,5108,710
9,080
9,5208,940
10,34011,580
11,350
11,41011,93012,890
14,580
15,13016,37019,18020,330
20,130
17,51014,620790
800
880900
1,1001,210
1,160
1,1601,1903,070
1,970
1,7301,8401,4701,870
1,790
2,0601,63020,490
22,410
24,62024,59030,76037,960
37,970
37,43033,430
Latin
America
and the
Caribbean1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
1997199810,370
10,290
10,600
11,26012,43014,600
15,100
16,57016,72013,280
14,040
14,530
13,99017,55019,280
19,420
21,50020,0401,960
1,940
2,050
2,0802,7503,430
3,340
3,6803,190110
150
140
150170190
210
2202205,250
2,340
1,150
950860
1,520
2,240
2,3102,2308,670
9,480
10,610
10,96014,89019,530
21,600
23,90023,190
Middle East 1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
19971998130
120
130
140130150
170
1902202,130
1,930
1,950
1,7902,2002,380
2,470
2,2002,06080
80
80
80
110130
130
13011020
10
10
202020
20
2010660
330
290
280260280
290
2101801,470
1,410
2,200
2,4002,8703,090
3,340
3,5303,380
Total of above 1990
199119921993199419951996
1997
199816,520
16,98017,88018,53020,58023,58024,740
26,300
26,72034,070
34,48035,23033,07040,26045,92045,850
46,740
46,07015,980
17,62018,19019,51023,43025,29025,180
22,640
19,050950
1,0001,0601,1101,3401,5001,460
1,490
1,4809,550
5,0403,4503,4203,0604,3204,970
5,300
4,82034,440
37,31041,59041,98053,11065,83068,830
71,560
65,600
Notes:
(i) For technical reasons, Western Europe  includes the figures for Developing Europe.
(ii) In this Table, Developing Countries  exclude Developing Europe and include destinations not elsewhere specified.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
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Table II.2: Developing Countries ' Exports of Agricultural Products by Region and by
Developing Region Destination, 1990-98 (US$ million)
Origin Destination
Year Africa Developing
AsiaLatin America
and the
CaribbeanMiddle
EastDeveloping
Countries
Africa 1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
199719981,920
2,000
2,1902,0601,950
2,270
2,3102,3702,4301,380
1,370
1,3301,2701,840
2,190
2,3402,5102,23060
80
70
180190
180
310370330370
470
540460590
510
5305905803,810
4,010
4,160
4,0304,5905,250
5,920
6,7005,600
Developing Asia 1990
1991
1992199319941995
1996
199719981,370
1,6901,7301,820
1,910
2,3902,1502,210
2,32016,060
17,33019,10019,180
25,380
30,83031,30030,810
26,740640
690650630
710
870900960
9302,190
2,5802,9002,740
2,570
3,3803,5003,430
3,33020,490
22,410
24,62024,59030,76037,960
37,970
37,43033,430
Latin
America
and the
Caribbean1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
199719981,000
950
1,3201,0201,190
1,870
2,0302,2202,1701,940
2,4302,3502,0804,070
5,490
5,9406,5605,1304,460
4,8905,5706,4508,270
10,200
11,41012,38013,0601,220
1,1301,2901,3601,280
1,800
2,0202,3702,4308,670
9,480
10,610
10,96014,89019,530
21,600
23,90023,190
Middle East 1990
1991
1992
199319941995
1996
19971998100
180
150110210
250
280300260190
240
350430490
490
40049040040
40
504070
50
6050601,010
940
1,5501,7001,880
1,990
2,1402,3302,4501,470
1,410
2,200
2,4002,8703,090
3,340
3,5303,380
Total of above 1990
199119921993199419951996
1997
19984,390
4,8105,4005,0005,2706,7806,760
7,100
7,18019,580
21,36023,14022,95031,78039,01039,970
40,370
34,4905,200
5,7106,3307,3009,240
11,30012,680
13,760
14,3704,790
5,1206,2806,2606,3207,6708,200
8,720
8,79034,440
37,31041,59041,98053,11065,83068,830
71,560
65,600
Notes:
(i) For technical reasons, Western Europe  includes the figures for Developing Europe.
(ii) In this Table, Developing Countries  exclude Developing Europe and include destinations not elsewhere specified.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 11
Table II.3: Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural Products by Origin, 1990-98
(US$ million)
From All Origins From Developing Countries
Total
Agricultural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricultural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
Materials
1990 165,650 118,170 47,480 68,540 54,440 14,100
1991 165,640 122,890 42,740 71,270 58,270 12,990
1992 173,850 129,330 44,520 73,120 59,620 13,490
1993 172,870 128,870 44,000 73,040 59,960 13,080
1994 199,400 146,750 52,640 86,560 70,910 15,650
1995 223,540 160,080 63,450 97,520 77,540 19,990
1996 225,570 168,300 57,270 98,310 80,220 18,090
1997 224,130 168,040 56,090 98,550 81,250 17,300
1998 213,430 163,220 50,210 94,130 78,640 15,490
Note: Imports are valued f.o.b..
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table II.4: Average Annual Growth of Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural
Products by Origin, 1990-94, 1994-97 and 1994-98
(per cent)
1990-94 1994-97 1994-98
Total
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
Materials
From All
Origins4½ 5½ 2½ 4 4½ 2 1½ 2½ -1
From
DevelopingCountries6 7 2½ 4½ 4½ 3½ 2 2½ -½
Notes:
(i) Average annual percentage changes based on value figures.
(ii) Imports are valued f.o.b. .
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 12
SECTION III:           PRODUCT PATTERN OF EXPORTS
11. This Section provides information on the product pattern of developing countries' agricultural
exports over the period 1990 to 1998.  For this purpose, time-series for the respective leading
agricultural export items, as identified for Africa, developing Asia or Latin America and theCaribbean on the basis of the 2-digit level of SITC Revision 2, are presented (for product descriptions
see Box 2 below).
12. The aggregate export figures in Table III.1 (Africa), Table III.4 (developing Asia) and
Table III.7 (Latin America and the Caribbean) represent, in each case, only a sample of countries in
the relevant region.  These samples include, for each of the concerned regions, all countries for which
a full series of data for the period 1990-1998 was available.
13. For Africa,  total exports of agricultural products of the 10 countries combined accounted for
44 per cent  of Africa's total agricultural exports in 1998.  Total exports of agricultural products of the
12 Asian countries combined accounted for  95 per cent  of total agricultural exports of developing
Asia in 1998.  For Latin America and the Caribbean, total exports of agricultural products of the 14
countries combined accounted for 88 per cent of the total agricultural exports of Latin America and
the Caribbean in 1998.
14. Tables III.
3, III.6 and III.9 present average annual growth rates (compound rates) of the US$
value of agricultural exports for the periods 1990-94 and 1994-98 (and 1994-97 when relevant).
Box 2
Product Descriptions
SITC Division Code -
2-digit levelSITC Division Heading –
DescriptionAbbreviations used in Tables
01 Meat and meat preparations Meat
04 Cereal and cereal preparations Cereals (incl. rice)
05 Fruit and vegetables Fruit & vegetables
06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey Sugar
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and
manufactures thereofCoffee, tea, cocoa & spices
08Feeding stuff for animals (not incl.
unmilled cereals)Feeding stuff
12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures Tobacco
23Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and
reclaimed)Rubber
26Textile fibres (other than wool tops)
and their wastes (not manufactured
into yarn or fabric)Natural fibres
42 Fixed vegetable oils and fats Vegetable oils and fatsG/AG/NG/S/6
Page 13
Table III.1: Agricultural Exports of Ten Af rican Countries by Product Group, 1990-98
(US$ million and per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
US$ million
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 590 644 594 701 912 934 923 958 1,021
Natural fibres 649 433 316 239 537 459 416 485 498
Fruit & vegetables 1,468 1,723 1,756 1,647 1,631 2,061 2,092 1,973 2,051
Sugar 770 675 539 487 632 693 992 805 849
Tobacco 388 506 509 443 757 604 859 759 714
Sub-total 3,864 3,980 3,714 3,517 4,470 4,751 5,282 4,979 5,133
Other agricultural products 2,708 2,742 2,814 2,847 4,029 4,424 4,325 4,249 3,987
Total 6,572 6,722 6,527 6,364 8,498 9,175 9,607 9,227 9,120
per cent of Total
Selected products (Sub-total) 59 59 57 55 53 52 55 54 56
Other agricultural products 41 41 43 45 47 48 45 46 44
Note: The data represent the agricultural exports of Algeria; Egypt; Kenya; Madagascar; Mauritius; Morocco;
Seychelles; South Africa; Tunisia;  and Zimbabwe.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
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Table III.2: Agricultural Exports of Selected African Countries, 1998
(US$ million and per cent)
Value of agricultural exports
(US$ million)Share in total agricultural
exports from Africa
(per cent)
South Africa 3,248 16
Morocco 1,609 8
Kenya 1,244 6
Zimbabwe 1,136 5
Egypt 580 3
Tunisia 577 3
Mauritius 457 2
Madagascar 185 0.9
Algeria  48 0.2
Seychelles 34 0.2
Total of above  9,120 44
Total Africa 20,871 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.
Table III.3: Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries by
Product Group, 1990-94 and 1994-98
(per cent)
1990-94 1994-98
Average annual percentage change based on value figures
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 11½ 3
Natural fibres - 4½ - 2
Fruit & vegetables 2½ 6
Sugar - 5 7½
Tobacco 18 -1½
Other agricultural products 10½ -½
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate agricultural exports of Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.  
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 15
Table III.4: Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing Countries by Product Group,
1990-98
(US$ million and per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
US$ million
Coffee, tea, cocoa &
spices3,141 2,983 2,768 2,947 3, 880 4,159 3,950 4,464 4,472
Cereals (incl. rice) 2,931 3,975 4,632 4,526 5,093 5,554 5,670 6,374 6,367
Fruit & vegetables 5,636 6,218 6, 597 6,502 7,282 7,791 7,830 7,375 6,953
Meat 2,020 2,602 2,377 2,483 3,039 3,935 4,067 4,100 3,797
Rubber 3,863 3,769 3,948 3,731 4,935 7,237 6,959 5,452 4,469
Natural fibres 3,258 3,086 3,060 2,792 3,197 3,660 4,027 3,755 3,097
Vegetable oils & fats 2,771 3,022 3,702 3,783 5,599 6,723 6,444 7,779 7,170
Sub-total 23,621 25,654 27,084 26,763 33,024 39,058 38,947 39,298 36,325
Other agricultural
products23,810 25,707 27,880 28,845 32,67 6 36,667 36,377 34,740 31,656
Total 47,431 51,361 54,964 55,608 65,700 75,725 75,324 74,038 67,981
per cent of Total
Selected products (Sub-
total)50 50 49 48 50 52 52 53 53
Other agricultural
products50 50 51 52 50 48 48 47 47
Note: The data represent the aggregate agricultural exports of China;  Chinese Taipei;  Hong Kong, China;  India;
Indonesia;  Macau, China;  Malaysia;  Pakistan;  Philippines;  Republic of Korea;  Singapore; and Thailand.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 16
Table III.5: Agricultural Exports of Se lected Developing Asian Countries, 1998
(US$ million and per cent)
Value of agricultural exports
(US$ million)Share in total agricultural
exports from Developing Asia
(per cent)
China 14,314 20
Thailand 12,314 17
Malaysia  9,539 13
Indonesia 7,706 11
India 6,528 9
Chinese Taipei 5,028 7
Singapore 4,470 6
Korea  Rep. 4,022 6
Philippines 2,201 3
Pakistan 1,306 2
Hong Kong, China 503 1
Macau, China 47 0.1
Total of above   67,981 95
Total Developing Asia 71,311 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.
Table III.6 Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing
Countries by Product Group, 1990-94, 1994-97 and 1994-98
(per cent)
1990-94 1994-97 1994-98
    Average annual percentage change based on value figures
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 5½ 5 3½
Cereals
(incl. rice)15 8 5½
Fruit & vegetables 6½ ½ -1
Meat 10½ 10½ 5½
Rubber 6½ 3½ -2½
Natural fibres -½ 5½ -1
Vegetable oils & fats 19 11½ 6½
Other agricultural products 8 2 -1
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate agricultural exports of China;  Chinese Taipei;  Hong Kong,
China;  India;  Indonesia;  Macau, China;  Malaysia;  Pakistan;  Philippines;  Republic of Korea;  Singapore;  and Thailand.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 17
Table III.7: Agricultural Exports of Fourteen  Latin American and Caribbean Countries by
Product Group, 1990-98
(US$ million and per cent)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
US$ million
Cereals
 (incl. rice)1,808 1,517 1,997 2,059 2, 089 2,838 3,849 4,593 4,460
Meat 2,027 2,195 2,377 2,415 2,683 2,982 3,172 3,323 3,192
Feeding stuff 3,828 3,832 4,388 4,551 4,853 4,976 7,089 7,210 4,826
Fruit & Vegetables 5,815 5,935 6, 363 6,125 6,932 8,388 9,209 9,202 9,761
Sugar 1,246 1,102 1,243 1,483 1,820 3,088 3,002 3,191 3,463
Coffee, tea, cocoa &
spices4,187 4,258 3,565 3,725 6, 566 6,552 5,971 7,944 6,657
Sub-total 18,911 18,839 19,933 20,358 24,943 28,824 32,292 35,463 32,360
Other agricultural
products12,110 12,676 13,466 13,887 17,67 3 22,524 21,823 24,253 24,633
Total 31,021 31,515 33,399 34,245 42,616 51,348 54,115 59,716 56,992
per cent of Total
Selected products
(Sub-total)61 60 60 59 59 56 60 59 57
Other agricultural
products39 40 40 41 41 44 40 41 43
Note: The data represent the aggregate agricultural exports of Argentina; Barbados; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia;
Ecuador; Jamaica; Mexico; Paraguay; Peru; Trinidad and Tobago; Uruguay;  and Venezuela.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 18
Table III.8: Agricultural Exports of Select ed Latin American and Caribbean Countries,1998
(US$ million and per cent)
Value of agricultural exports
(US$ million)Share in total agricultural
exports from Latin America
and the Caribbean
(per cent)
Brazil 17,064 26
Argentina 13,506 21
Mexico 8,184 12
Chile 5,595 9
Colombia 4,004 6
Ecuador 2,854 4
Uruguay 1,644 3
Peru 1,343 2
Paraguay 1,027 2
Venezuela 691 1
Bolivia 436 0.7
Jamaica 311 0.5
Trinidad and Tobago 253 0.4
Barbados 80 0.1
Total of above   56,992 88
Total Latin American and the
Caribbean65,588 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 19
Table III.9 Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Fourteen Latin American
and Caribbean  Countries by Product Group, 1990-94 and 1994-98
(per cent)
1990-94 1994-98
Average annual percentage change based on value figures
Cereals (incl. rice) 3½ 21
Meat 7½ 4½
Feeding stuff 6 0
Fruit & vegetables 4½ 9
Sugar 10 17½
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 12 ½
Other agricultural products 10 8½
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate exports of Argentina; Barbados; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile;
Colombia; Ecuador; Jamaica; Mexico; Paraguay; Peru; Trinidad and Tobago; Uruguay;  and Venezuela.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 20
SECTION IV:     LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
15. The United Nations has designated 48 countries as least-developed: Afghanistan, Angola,
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, the Central African
Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique,
Myanmar, Nepal, the Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, the Sudan, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and
Zambia.
16. This Section provides information on the trade performance of these least-developed
countries, as a group, during the period 1990 to 1998.  For reasons of data availability, the informationpresented is based on developed countries' import statistics.  It should be noted that therefore only part
of the agricultural exports of least-developed countries are covered, as these countries also trade
among themselves and with other developing countries.
17. Tables IV.1 and IV.2 present data on developed countries' imports, and import growth, of
food and agricultural raw materials over the period 1990 to 1998.  Imports are broken down by origin,i.e. from least-developed countries and from the world as a whole.
18. Table IV.3 shows the merchandise trade of the European Union, the United States and Japan
respectively with the least-developed countries from 1990 through 1998.  Finally, Table IV.4 presents
data on the imports of agricultural products of th e European Union, the United States and Japan and
of other developed countries from the least-developed countries.
19. Annexes 1 to 3 provide more detailed information on the structure of exports of least-
developed countries, including information on products of particular export interest to these countries.
Table IV.1: Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural Products by Origin, 1990-98
(US$ million)
From All Origins From Least-Developed Countries
Total
Agricultural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricultural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
Materials
1990 165,650 118,170 47,480 3,500 2,390 1,110
1991 165,640 122,890 42,740 3,050 2,240 820
1992 173,850 129,330 44,520 3,060 2,250 810
1993 172,870 128,870 44,000 2,920 2,230 690
1994 199,400 146,750 52,640 3,710 2,850 860
1995 223,540 160,080 63,450 4,600 3,640 970
1996 225,570 168,300 57,270 4,340 3,450 890
1997 224,130 168,040 56,090 4,460 3,520 940
1998 213,430 163,220 50,210 4,110 3,240 870
Note: Imports are valued f.o.b..
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 21
Table IV.2: Average Annual Growth of Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural
Products by Origin, 1990-94, 1994-97 and 1994-98
(per cent)
1990-94 1994-97 1994-98
Total
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
MaterialsTotal
Agricul-
tural
ProductsFood Agric.
Raw
Materials
From All
Origins4½ 5½ 2½ 4 4½ 2 1½ 2½ -1
From Least-
DevelopedCountries1½ 4½ -6 6½ 7½ 3 2½ 3½ ½
Notes:
(i) Average annual percentage changes based on value figures.
(ii) Imports are valued f.o.b. .
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 22
Table IV.3: Merchandise trade of the European Un ion, the United States and Japan with the
Least-Developed Countries, 1990-98
(US$ million and per cent)
Value Share
1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1990 1998
Imports from LDCs
European Union (15)
Total merchandise 9,660 7,593 9,397 9,407 9,372 9,677 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 2,486 2,421 3,201 2,920 2,927 2,862 25.7 29.6
Mining products 4,378 1,527 1,480 1,607 1,400 1,337 45.3 13.8
Manufactures 2,664 3,574 4,592 4,784 4,914 5,314 27.6 54.9
United States
Total merchandise 4,603 4,631 4,981 5,685 6,324 6,336 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 363 400 343 409 531 429 7.9 6.8
Mining products 3,033 2,752 2,843 3,356 3,354 2,850 65.9 45.0
Manufactures 1,127 1,454 1,765 1,892 2,414 3,024 24.5 47.7
Japan
Total merchandise 1,250 1,259 1,579 1,683 1,294 1,069 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 541 724 825 810 775 664 43.3 62.1
Mining products 645 435 658 722 391 280 51.6 26.2
Manufactures 55 66 80 149 114 106 4.4 9.9
Exports to LDCs
European Union (15)
Total merchandise 10,077 7,532 9,109 9,481 9,645 9,291 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 2,024 1,814 2,161 2,273 2,246 2,350 20.1 25.3
Mining products 286 281 270 275 325 235 2.8 2.5
Manufactures 7,623 5,338 6,499 6,790 6,889 6,530 75.6 70.3
United States
Total merchandise 1,837 1,686 2,247 2,205 2,156 2,338 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 631 859 1,057 808 781 805 34.3 34.4
Mining products 19 10 34 38 19 16 1.0 0.7
Manufactures 1,067 728 1,033 1,231 1,235 1,389 58.1 59.4
Japan
Total merchandise 1,708 1,484 1,689 1,654 1,613 1,440 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 30 28 39 34 35 31 1.8 2.2
Mining products 5 5 4 5 4 7 0.3 0.5
Manufactures 1,666 1,440 1,637 1,607 1,522 1,375 97.5 95.5
Source: WTO Secretariat, International Trade Statistics Report, 1999.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 23
Table IV.4: Developed countries' imports of agricultural products from the Least-Developed
Countries, 1990-98
(US$ million and per cent)
ValueShare of imports
from LDCs
1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1990 1998
European Union (15) 2,486 2,421 3,201 2,920 2,927 2,862 71 70
United States 363 400 343 409 531 429 10 10
Japan 541 724 825 810 775 664 15 16
Other developed
countries105 169 236 205 226 155 3 4
TOTAL 3,495 3,715 4,605 4,345 4,460 4,110 100 100
Source: WTO Secretariat, International Trade Statistics Report, 1999.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 24
Annex 1
LDCs' total exports by major commodity groups, 1995
Product code Product description Value
US$ thousandShare
(%)
0 Food and live animals 4,076,382 18.0
1 Beverages and tobacco 321,494 1.0
2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels 3,549,521 16.0
3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials 5,554,835 25.0
4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes 41,717 0.0
5 Chemicals and related products, n.e.s. 348,901 2.0
6 Manufactured goods 4,370,669 20.0
7 Machinery and transport equipment 317,333 1.0
8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 3,433,012 15.0
9 Commodities and transactions not elsewhere
classified180,363 1.0
TOTAL 22,194,227 100.0
Source: Document WT/LDC/HL/19, dated 21 October 1997.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 25
Annex 2
Top 20 products exported by LDCs, 1995
SITC code Product '000 US$ Share in total
exports
(%)
3330 Petroleum oils, oils from bitumin 5,000,944 23.20
07111 Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated 1,649,643 7.36
66722 Diamonds, rough sorted (excl. industr.) 1,549,294 6.91
2631 Cotton (excl. linters), not carded 838,714 3.74
68212 Refined copper 747,251 3.33
66721 Diamonds, rough, sorted 662,151 2.95
03611 Shrimps and prawns, frozen 616,639 2.75
84151 Shirts of cotton, for men 541,248 2.41
24751 Tropical wood, in the rough, not treated 398,789 1.78
2851 Aluminium ores and concentrates 366,366 1.63
8454 T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted 353,564 1.58
24752 Wood (excl. coniferous, tropical) rough 315,468 1.41
68981 Cobalt mattes and other interm. of cobalt 310,489 1.39
8414 Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches 302,179 1.35
03637 Cuttlefish, octopus and squid, frozen 298,250 1.33
8453 Jerseys, pullovers, and similar articles, knitted 280,639 1.25
84159 Men's shirts of textile matter 279,339 1.25
2815 Iron ore and concentrates, not agglomerated 274,881 1.23
1212 Tobacco, wholly or partly stemmed/stripped 274,172 1.22
2484 Non-coniferous wood, sawn lengthwise, thick 239,239 1.07
Total top 20 products 15,299,259 69.14
Source: Document WT/LDC/HL/19, dated 21 October 1997.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 26
Annex 3
Commodities for which Least-Developed Countries are Major Suppliers on World Markets
H.S. Code Product Exports
(in US$1000)Market
Share
World* LDCs** (in %)
530310 Jute, and other textile bast fibres 56,941 50,671 89.0
90700 Cloves 24,679 19,702 79.8
71390 Dried leguminous vegetables, other 116,694 82,230 70.5
90500 Vanilla 111,804 75,761 67.8
10420 Live goats 40,536 26,697 65.9
130120 Natural gum arabic 151,037 86,167 57.1
330126 Essential oils of vetiver 14,985 8,271 55.2
430130 Raw furskins of lamb 11,335 5,785 51.0
530710 Yarn of jute, single 51,876 25,057 48.3
530720 Yarn of jute, multiple or cabled 116,418 55,839 48.0
531010 Woven fabrics of jute, unbleached 149,599 69,949 46.8
260500 Cobalt ores and concentrates 37,357 17,005 45.5
440333 Wood in the ro ugh, other 775,184 327,639 42.3
630510 Sacks and bags, of jute or other textile bast fibres 83,096 32,073 38.6
560710 Twine, cordage, ropes, of jute or other textile bast fibres 33,953 12,849 37.8
710210 Diamonds, whether or not worked, unsorted 1,801,387 661,614 36.7
410310 Raw hides and skins, of goats or kids 44,260 14,823 33.5
260600 Aluminum ores and concentrates 1,032,742 341,170 33.0
Notes:
* "World" represents the aggregate exports of the relevant 35 leading exporters reporting in Harmonized
System Chapters in 1995.
** Least-developed countries' exports are calculated on the basis of the imports reported by the same 35
markets.
Source: Document WT/LDC/HL/14, dated 23 October 1997.G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 27Annex 4 – The International Grains Council wh eat price index, January 1987 – March 2000
050010001500200025003000IGC WHEAT PRICE INDEX * 
January 1987 to March 2000
IGC 04/00* Average wheat prices of seven widely traded varieties of bread wheat: July/Dec 1986=1000 88 89 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 87 00G/AG/NG/S/6
Page 28Annex 5 – IMF indices of non-fuel primary commodity prices, 1982-2000 (1990=100) 1/
708090100110120130140150160
708090100110120130140150160
In U.S. DollarsIn SDRsReal 2/
  1/ Indices comprise 39 price series for 33 non-fuel primary commodities.  Weights are based on the 1987-89 average of world e xport earnings.
  2/ Deflated by the export unit value index for manufactures of industrial countries.
__________