PRESS RELEASE 
 
PRESS/598 
26 March 2010 
 
(10-1648) 
WORLD TRADE 2009, PROSPECTS FOR 2010 
Trade to expand by 9.5% in  2010 after a dismal 2009, WTO 
reports 
After the sharpest decline in more than 70 years, world trade is set to rebound in 2010 by growing 
at 9.5%, according to WTO economists.   Exports from developed economies are expected to  increase by 7.5% in volume terms over the 
course of the year while shipments from the rest of the world (including developing economies and 
the Commonwealth of Independent States) should rise by around 11% as the world emerges from recession.  This strong expansion will help recover some, but by no means all, of the ground lost in 2009 when the global economic crisis sparked a 12.2% contraction in the volume of global trade -- the largest such decline since World War II. Should trade continue to expand at its current pace, the economists predict, it would take another year for trade volumes to surpass the peak level of 2008. Measuring trade in volume terms provides a more reliable basis for annual comparisons since volume measurements are not distorted by changes in commodity prices or currency 
fluctuations, as they can be when trade is  measured in dollars or other currencies
. 
 
 One positive development in 2009 was the absence of any major increase in trade barriers imposed by WTO members in response to the cr isis. The number of trade-restricting measures 
applied by governments has actually declined in recent months. However, significant slack remains in the global economy, and unemployment is likely to remain high throughout 2010 in many countries. Persistent unemployment may intensify protectionist pressures. 
“During these difficult times, the multilateral trad ing system has once again proven its value. WTO 
rules and principles have assisted governments in keeping markets open and they now provide a platform from which trade can grow as the global  economy improves.  We see the light at the end 
of the tunnel and trade promises to be an important part of the recovery. But we must avoid derailing any economic revival through protectionism," said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy.  
Why was the trade decline so large?  
The 12% drop in the volume of world trade in 2009 was larger than most economists had 
predicted. This contraction also exceeded the WTO’s earlier forecast of a 10% decline. World trade volumes fell on three other occasions after 1965 (–0.2% in 2001, –2% in 1982, and –7% in 1975), but none of these episodes approached the magnitude of last year’s economic slide (Chart 1). Trade in current US dollar terms dropped even further than trade in volume terms (–23%), thanks in large part to falling prices of oil and other primary commodities.  PRESS/598 
Page 2 of 15 
 
 
Economists have suggested a number of reasons why trade declined so steeply, including the 
imposition of some of protectionist measures. But the consensus that has emerged centres on a sharp contraction in global demand as the primary cause. This was magnified by the product composition of the fall in demand, by the presence of  global supply chains, and by the fact that the 
decline in trade was synchronized across countries and regions.
1 The weakness in private sector 
demand was linked to the global recession triggered by the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States. What began in the US financial sector soon spread to the real economy, with global repercussions. Limited availability of trade finance also played a role.   Chart 1: Volume of world merchandise exports, 1965-2009 
(Annual % change) 
-15-10-5051015
1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009
 
Source: WTO Secretariat. 
 
 
Sharp falls in wealth during the recession caused households and firms to reduce their spending on 
all types of goods, especially consumer durables (e.g. automobiles) and investment goods such as 
industrial machinery (Table 1). Purchases of these items could be postponed easily in response to heightened economic uncertainty, and they may also have been more sensitive to credit conditions than other types of goods.  Whatever the reason for their decline, the reduction in demand for these products fed through to markets that supply inputs for their production, particularly iron and steel. Falling demand for iron and steel was also linked to the slump in building construction in countries where property markets 
had been booming before the crisis (e.g., the Un ited States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 
Spain).  The fact that some products comprise a disproportionately large share of world trade, compared with their share of overall output, may have further depressed world trade flows relative to overall production (GDP or gross domestic product). For example, consumer durables and investment goods make up a relatively small fraction of global output but a relatively large part of world trade. 
Consequently, a decline in demand for these products would have had a greater impact on trade than on GDP. 
 
                                               
1  For a comprehensive analysis of the causes of trade contraction, see Richard Baldwin (ed. 
2009), The Great Trade Collapse: Causes, Consequences and Prospects, Centre for Economic Policy Research (London) PRESS/598 
Page 3 of 15 
 
 
 
Table 1: Quarterly growth in world tr ade in manufactures by product, 2008Q1-
2009Q3  
(y-o-y percentage change in current US dollars)      
                
  2008Q1 2008Q2 2008Q3 2008Q4 2009Q1 2009Q2 2009Q3 
        
Manufactures 15.7 18.6  13.2 -10.4  -27.6  -29.8 -21.5 
Iron and steel 14.6 27.0 42.7 5.4 -37.3 -54.7 -55.0 
Chemicals 19.3 24.5 21.7 -5.9 -23.5 -24.4 -16.6 
Office and telecom 
equipment 10.0 13.2 7.2 -13.9 -28.4 -22.2 -15.3 
Automotive products 15.3 15.8 3.4 -26.0 -46.9 -45.6 -28.6 
Industrial machinery 21.9 22.7 15.7 -7.3 -28.8 -36.0 -31.9 
Textiles 10.3 8.9 3.4 -12.8 -26.9 -26.8 -17.3 
Clothing 10.3 11.4 7.9 -2.5 -10.4 -15.5 -12.1 
                
        
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates based on mirror data. 
 
 
The measured decline in trade was also inflated to some extent by the spread of global supply 
chains, in which goods may cross national border s several times during the production process 
before arriving at their final destination. Merchandise trade statistics record the value of goods every time they cross national boundaries, so when these data are summed to arrive at a figure for total world trade, the number will be larger in the presence of supply chains due to a certain amount of double counting.  The extent of this double counting is difficult to gauge due to a lack of readily available data, but it is reflected in the fact that exports have been growing faster than production since the 1980s (Chart 2). This ratio has increased steadily si nce 1985, and jumped by nearly one third between 
2000 and 2008, before dropping in 2009 as world exports fell faster than world GDP. 
 
 Chart 2: Ratio of world exports of goods and commercial  services to GDP, 1981-2009 (Index 2000=100) 
405060708090100110120130140
1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009
 
Source: IMF for world GDP, WTO Secr etariat for world trade in goods 
and commercial services . 
 
 
A final factor that reinforced the 2009 trade slump was its synchronized nature. Exports and 
imports of all countries fell at the same time, leaving no region untouched (Chart 3).  It is PRESS/598 
Page 4 of 15 
 
 
intuitively clear that the fall in world trade would have been smaller if contraction in some regions 
had been balanced by expansion in others, but this was not the case.  The synchronized nature of the decline is closely related to the spread of international supply chains and information technology, which allows producers in one region to respond almost instantly to market conditions in another part of the world. This usually contributes to global and national welfare by encouraging the most efficient use of scarce resources, but in the case of the trade collapse it may have spread the recession faster.   Chart 3: Growth in World merchandise exports trade by region 
(Year to year % change in dollar values) 
-60.0-40.0-20.00.020.040.060.080.0
2007Q1
2007Q22007Q32007Q42008Q12008Q22008Q3
2008Q4
2009Q12009Q22009Q32009Q4World  a
North A meric a
South and Central
Am erica 
Eur ope
Commonw ealth of
Independent States
Asia  a
Others  b
 
 
a Includes significant re-expor ts or imports for re-exports 
b Includes Africa and Middle East. These regional totals are significantly under-represented. Sources: IMF, International Financial Statistics; Eurostat, Comext Database; National statistics; Global Trade Atlas. 
 
 
Trade prospects for 2010 
 
World trade and output are currently in a recovery phase. The fall in global output last year (–
2.3%) was the first of its kind since the Great Depression in the 1920s and 30s, prompting strong fiscal and monetary policy responses from governments around the world.  Since these extraordinary measures appear to have  succeeded in preventing a downward spiral in 
the global economy, policy makers will eventually ha ve to turn their attention to the withdrawal of 
these policies.   Without any further upheavals in the global economy, world merchandise trade should resume its normal upward trajectory through the end of 2010,  although some deviation from its previous 
trend line will persist indefinitely. 
The WTO Secretariat estimates that world exports in 
volume terms will grow by 9.5%, this year, while developed economies’ exports will 
expand 7.5% and the rest of  the world (developing econ omies plus the Commonwealth 
of Independent States) will advance 11%. Th is projection assumes a resumption of 
global GDP growth in line with  consensus estimates (2.9% at market exchange rates), as 
well as stability in oil prices and exchange rates.  However, unexpectedly positive or 
negative economic news in the coming months  could necessitate a re vision of the trade 
forecast.  
 PRESS/598 
Page 5 of 15 
 
 
A 9.5% growth rate for trade is insufficient to bring about a return to pre-crisis levels this year, 
and even the 11% rate forecast for developing countries would not do the trick. However, two 
years of growth at this pace would result in tr ade levels surpassing the peaks of 2008. Developed 
economies, on the other hand, would require three years of growth to accomplish this.  These trade forecasts are more sensitive to changes in outcomes for developed countries than for developing ones, due to developed countries’ larger share of world trade.  There remain significant risks that the forecast coul d be over-optimistic, incl uding the possibility of 
further increases in oil prices, appreciation or depreciation of major currencies, and additional adverse developments in financial markets.  However, there is also a possibility that trade may outperform the forecast, for example if unemployment rates fall more quickly than expected in developed countries.  As can be seen in Chart 4, the estimates of expo rt growth are supported by the WTO Secretariat’s 
time series forecasting model
2, which predicts growth in imports of around 9.5% in goods and 
services for OECD countries (technically “on a balance-of-payments basis”).  
 
 
Chart 4: Real GDP and trade gr owth of OECD countries, 2008-09 
% change on a year to year basis 
-20-15-10-50510
Q1 2008 Q2 2008 Q3 2008 Q4 2008 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4 2009
aGDP
Exports of goods and services
Imports of goods and services
 
a Estimated based on available data. 
Source: OECD Quarterly National Accounts. 
 
Brief overview of trade developments in 2009 
Trade data in volume (real) terms: merchandise 
All countries and regions registered declines in the volume of their merchandise exports in 2009. 
 The United States (–13.9%), European Union (27) (–14.8%) and Japan (–24.9%) all registered declines larger than the world average of –12.2%, while the smallest declines were recorded by the oil exporting regions of Middle East (–4.9% ), Africa (–5.6%) and South/Central America (–
5.7%). Asia (–11.1%) and China (–10.5%) also saw their exports decline, but by slightly less than the world average. (Table 2) 
                                              
 
2 2 See Keck, A., Raubold, A. and Truppia, A. (2009) "Forecasting International Trade: A 
Time Series Approach", OECD Journal: Journal of Business Cycle Measurement and Analysis , Vol. 
2009/2: 1-20. 
 PRESS/598 
Page 6 of 15 
 
 
 
The situation was reversed on the import side, where the two largest declining regions were oil exporters — the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (–20.2%) and South and Central America (–16.5%). Among the remaining countries, the United States (–16.5%) and the European Union (–14.5%) had declines greater than the world average, while Japan’s drop (–12.8%) was nearly equal to the world rate. 
 
 
Table 2: GDP and merchandise trade by region, 2007-2009
Annual % change at constant prices (2005)
2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009
World 3.8 1.6 -2.3 6.4 2.1 -12.2 6.1 2.2 -12.9
North America 2.2 0.5 -2.7 4.8 2.1 -14.4 2.0 -2.4 -16.3
United States 2.1 0.4 -2.4 6.7 5.8 -13.9 1.1 -3.7 -16.5
South and Central America  a 6.4 5.0 -0.8 3.3 0.8 -5.7 17.6 13.3 -16.3
Europe 2.9 0.8 -4.0 4.2 0.0 -14.4 4.4 -0.6 -14.5
European Union (27) 2.8 0.7 -4.2 4.0 -0.1 -14.8 4.1 -0.8 -14.5
Commonwealth of
 Independent States (CIS) 8.3 5.3 -7.1 7.5 2.2 -9.5 19.9 16.3 -20.2
Africa 5.8 4.7 1.6 4.8 0.7 -5.6 13.8 14.1 -5.6
Middle East 5.5 5.4 1.0 4.5 2.3 -4.9 14.6 14.6 -10.6
Asia 6.0 2.7 0.1 11.7 5.5 -11.1 8.2 4.7 -7.9
China 13.0 9.0 8.5 19.8 8.6 -10.5 13.8 3.8 2.8Japan 2.3 -1.2 -5.0 9.4 2.3 -24.9 1.3 -1.3 -12.8India 9.4 7.3 5.4 14.4 14.4 -6.2 18.7 17.3 -4.4Newly industrialized
 economies (4)  b 5.6 1.6 -0.8 9.0 4.9 -5.9 5.3 3.5 -11.4
a  Includes the Caribbean.
b  Hong Kong, China; Republic of Korea; Singapore and Chinese Taipei.
Source:  WTO Secretariat.GDP Exports Imports
 
 
Trade data in value (nominal) terms: merchandise and commercial services 
The value of world merchandise exports fell 23% to $12.15 trillion in 2009, while world 
commercial services exports declined 13% to $3.31 tr illion (Table 3). This marked the first time 
since 1983 that trade in commercial services declined year on year.  Transport services recorded the largest drop am ong service categories, followed by travel and 
other commercial services (Table 4). The drop in transport services is unsurprising as this category is closely linked to trade in goods. (For more detailed information on trade by country and region, 
including leading exporters and imports of merchandise and commercial services, see the appendix tables below.)  Appendix Table 3 confirms that China has now overtaken Germany as the world’s leading merchandise exporter, accounting for almost 10% of world exports, and is second to the United States on the import side. The US share in world merchandise imports is 13% compared to China’s 8%. 
 
 PRESS/598 
Page 7 of 15 
 
 
Table 3: World exports of merchandise and commercial services, 2005-2009
$bn and % change
Value
2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009
Merchandise 12147 4 16 15 -23
Commercial services 3312 7 20 12 -13
Souce: WTO SecretariatAnnual % change
 
 
 
Table 4: World exports of commercial services b y major cate gory, 2009
$bn and % change
Value
2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009
Commercial services 3312 7 20 12 -13
Transport 704 5 20 16 -21
Travel 854 6 15 11 -11Other commercial services 1754 10 23 12 -10
Souce: WTO SecretariatAnnual % change
 
 
 
Although the declines in export volumes of oil producing regions were less than the world average 
in 2009, their declines in value terms tended to be larger.  For example, the dollar value of exports from the Middle East, Africa and Commonwealth of 
Independent States fell by 33%, 32%, and 36% resp ectively, compared to a drop of 23% for the 
world.  This was due to the sharp drop in oil prices between 2008 and 2009 (Chart 5). Since oil tends to 
dominate merchandise exports of petroleum producers, it should be noted that trade developments in value and volume terms may differ substantially for individual countries in 2009. 
 
 
Chart 5: Prices of selected primary products, January 2000–January 2010 
(Indices, 2000=100) 
50100150200250300350400450500
Jan-00
Jan-01
Jan-02
Jan-03
Jan-04
Jan-05
Jan-06
Jan-07
Jan-08
Jan-09
Jan-10Energy
Metals
Food
 
Source: IMF Primary Commodity Prices. PRESS/598 
Page 8 of 15 
 
 
APPENDIX TABLES  AND CHARTS 
 
Appendix Table 1
World merchandise trade by region and selected country, 2009
(Billion dollars and percentage)
Exports Imports
Value Annual percentage change Value Annual percentage change
2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009 2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009
World 12147 4 16 15 -23 12385 4 15 16 -24
North America 1602 2 11 11 -21 2177 -1 6 8 -25
United States 1057 4 12 12 -18 1604 -2 5 7 -26Canada 316 -3 8 9 -31 330 1 9 7 -21M e x i c o 2 3 0 2 9 7 - 2 1 2 4 2 11 01 0 - 2 4
South and Central America  a 461 6 14 21 -24 444 10 25 30 -25
Brazil 153 7 17 23 -23 134 15 32 44 -27Other South and Central America  a 308 6 13 20 -24 311 9 23 25 -25
Europe 4995 3 16 11 -23 5142 3 16 12 -25
European Union (27) 4567 3 16 11 -23 4714 3 16 12 -25
Germany 1121 4 19 9 -22 931 5 16 12 -21France 475 1 11 9 -21 551 2 14 14 -22
Netherlands 499 5 19 16 -22 446 5 18 18 -23
United Kingdom  b 351 -2 -2 5 -24 480 -2 4 2 -24Italy 405 2 20 8 -25 410 2 16 8 -26
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 452 7 21 35 -36 332 11 35 32 -33
R u s s i a n  F e d e r a t i o n   c 3 0 4 61 73 3 - 3 6 1 9 2 1 13 63 1 - 3 4
Africa 379 5 18 28 -32 400 12 23 27 -16
S o u t h  A f r i c a 6 3 52 01 6 - 2 2 7 2 41 21 2 - 2 8
Africa less South Africa 317 5 17 31 -33 328 14 27 32 -13
O i l  e x p o r t e r s    d 2 0 4 31 73 4 - 4 0 1 2 9 1 62 93 9 - 1 1N o n  o i l  e x p o r t e r s 1 1 3 91 62 3 - 1 7 1 9 9 1 32 72 8 - 1 4
Middle East 691 6 16 33 -33 493 10 25 28 -18
Asia 3566 6 16 15 -18 3397 6 15 21 -21
China 1202 12 26 17 -16 1006 11 21 18 -11Japan 581 -1 10 9 -26 551 2 7 23 -28
India 155 12 23 30 -20 244 14 29 40 -24
Newly industrialized economies (4)  e 853 4 11 10 -17 834 4 11 17 -24
Memorandum items:
Developing economies 4697 7 17 19 -22 4432 8 19 22 -20
M E R C O S U R   f 2 1 7 71 82 4 - 2 2 1 8 6 1 33 14 1 - 2 8ASEAN  g 814 6 12 14 -18 724 5 13 21 -23
EU (27) extra-trade 1525 4 17 13 -21 1672 3 16 17 -27
L e a s t  D e v e l o p e d  C o u n t r i e s  ( L D C s ) 1 2 5 1 12 53 2 - 2 7 1 4 4 1 32 42 9 - 1 1
a. Includes the Caribbean.  For composition of groups see the Technical Notes of WTO, International Trade Statistics, 2009.
c. Imports are valued f.o.b.
d. Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan.
e. Hong Kong, China; Republic of Korea; Singapore and Chinese Taipei. 
f. Common Market of the Southern Cone: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
g. Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thaila nd, Viet Nam
Source :  WTO Secretariat.b. The 2007 annual change is affected by a reduction in trade associated with fraudulent VAT declaration. For further informati on, refer to the special notes 
of the monthly UK Trade First Release  (www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1119)
 PRESS/598 
Page 9 of 15 
 
 
Appendix Table 2
(Billion dollars and percentage)
Value Value
2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009 2009 2005-09 2007 2008 2009
World 3310 7 20 12 -13  3115 7 19 13 -12
North America 542 6 15 9 -10  430 4 9 7 -10
    United States 470 7 16 10 -9  331 4 8 8 -9
South and Central America  b 100 9 18 16 -8  111 12 22 21 -8
    Brazil 26 15 26 27 -9  44 18 28 28 -1
Europe 1675 7 21 12 -14  1428 6 19 11 -13
    European Union (27) 1513 7 21 11 -14  1329 6 19 11 -13
United Kingdom 240 4 20 2 -16  160 0 15 1 -19Germany 215 8 18 11 -11  255 5 16 11 -10
France 140 4 16 10 -14  124 4 16 10 -12
S p a i n 1 2 2 72 01 2 - 1 4  8 7 72 3 9 - 1 7
Italy 101 3 13 7 -15  114 6 21 8 -11
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 69 13 27 28 -18  91 11 30 26 -21
    Russian Federation 42 14 27 30 -17  60 12 32 29 -19
U k r a i n e 1 3 1 02 62 7 - 2 3  1 1 1 12 94 3 - 3 2
Africa 7 8 91 91 9 - 1 1  1 1 7 1 42 82 7 - 1 1
    Egypt 21 10 24 25 -15  14 9 27 25 -17
Morocco 12 13 24 12 -5  6 20 27 24 13
    South Africa 11 0 13 -8 -9  14 4 16 3 -16
Middle East 96 11 16 20 -12  162 14 32 18 -13
    I s r a e l  2 2 61 01 4 - 9  1 7 62 01 3 - 1 2
Asia 751 9 22 14 -13  776 8 18 14 -11
China  a 129 15 33 20 -12  158 17 29 22 0
Japan 124 5 10 15 -15  146 4 11 10 -11
H o n g  K o n g ,  C h i n a 8 6 8 1 6 9- 6  4 4 7 1 5 1 1- 6
India 86 ... 25 18 ...  74 ... 21 26 ...Singapore 74 8 26 3 -11  74 8 16 6 -6K o r e a ,  R e p u b l i c  o f  5 6 62 82 0 - 2 5  7 4 62 11 2 - 1 9Chinese Taipei 31 5 7 11 -10  29 -2 8 0 -15
a  Preliminary estimate.
b  Includes the Caribbean.  For composition of groups see Chapter IV Metadata of WTO International Trade Statistics, 2009.
Note:   While provisional full year data were available in early March for 50 countries accounting for more than two thirds of world commercial
services trade, estimates for most other countries are based on data for the first three quarters.
Source :  WTO.World exports of commercial services by region and selected country, 2009
Annual percentage change Annual percentage changeExports Imports
 PRESS/598 
Page 10 of 15 
 
 
Appendix Table 3
Merchandise trade: leading exporters and importers, 2009
$bn and %
Rank Exporters Value Share Annual % 
change Rank Importers Value Share Annual % 
change 
1 China 1202 9.6 -16 1 United States 1604 12.7 -26
2 Germany 1121 9.0 -22 2 China 1006 8.0 -113 United States 1057 8.5 -18 3 Germany 931 7.4 -214 Japan 581 4.7 -26 4 France 551 4.4 -22
5 Netherlands 499 4.0 -22 5 Japan 551 4.4 -28
6 France 475 3.8 -21 6 United Kingdom 480 3.8 -247 Italy 405 3.2 -25 7 Netherlands 446 3.5 -238 Belgium 370 3.0 -22 8 Italy 410 3.2 -26
9 Korea, Republic of 364 2.9 -14 9 Hong Kong, China 353 2.8 -10
- retained imports a 91 0.7 -8
10 United Kingdom 351 2.8 -24 10 Belgium 351 2.8 -2511 Hong Kong, China 330 2.6 -11 11 Canada 330 2.6 -21
- domestic exports a 15 0.1 -9
- re-exports a 314 2.5 -11
12 Canada 316 2.5 -31 12 Korea, Republic of 323 2.6 -26
13 Russian Federation 304 2.4 -36 13 Spain 290 2.3 -31
14 Singapore 270 2.2 -20 14 Singapore 246 1.9 -23
- domestic exports 138 1.1 -21 - retained imports b 114 0.9 -28- re-exports 132 1.1 -19
15 Mexico 230 1.8 -21 15 India 244 1.9 -24
16 Spain 218 1.7 -23 16 Mexico 242 1.9 -2417 Taipei, Chinese 204 1.6 -20 17 Russian Federation c 192 1.5 -3418 Saudi Arabia a 189 1.5 -40 18 Taipei, Chinese 175 1.4 -27
19 United Arab Emirates a 175 1.4 -27 19 Australia 165 1.3 -17
20 Switzerland 173 1.4 -14 20 Switzerland 156 1.2 -1521 Malaysia 157 1.3 -21 21 Poland 147 1.2 -3022 India 155 1.2 -20 22 Austria 144 1.1 -22
23 Australia 154 1.2 -18 23 Turkey 141 1.1 -30
24 Brazil 153 1.2 -23 24 United Arab Emirates a 140 1.1 -2125 Thailand 152 1.2 -14 25 Thailand 134 1.1 -25
26 Austria 137 1.1 -24 26 Brazil 134 1.1 -27
27 Poland 134 1.1 -21 27 Malaysia 124 1.0 -2128 Sweden 131 1.0 -29 28 Sweden 119 0.9 -2929 Norway 121 1.0 -30 29 Czech Republic 105 0.8 -26
30 Indonesia 120 1.0 -14 30 Saudi Arabia a 92 0.7 -20
Total of above d 10244 82.2 - Total of above d 10323 81.6 -
World d 12461 100.0 -23 World d 12647 100.0 -23
a. Secretariat estimates.
b. Singapore’s retained imports are defined as imports less re-exports.c. Imports are valued f.o.b.
d. Includes significant re-exports or imports for re-export.
Source: WTO Secretariat.
 PRESS/598 
Page 11 of 15 
 
 
Appendix Table 4
Merchandise trade: leading exporters and importers, 2009
Excluding intra-EU (27) trade — $bn and %
Rank Exporters Value Share Annual % 
change Rank Importers Value Share Annual % 
change 
1 Extra-EU (27) exports 1525 16.2 -21 1 Extra-EU (27) imports 1672 17.4 -27
2 China 1202 12.8 -16 2 United States 1604 16.7 -263 United States 1057 11.2 -18 3 China 1006 10.5 -114 Japan 581 6.2 -26 4 Japan 551 5.7 -28
5 Korea, Republic of 364 3.9 -14 5 Hong Kong, China 353 3.7 -10
- retained imports a 91 0.9 -8
6 Hong Kong, China 330 3.5 -11 6 Canada 330 3.4 -21
- domestic exports a 15 0.2 -9
- re-exports a 314 3.3 -11
7 Canada 316 3.4 -31 7 Korea, Republic of 323 3.4 -268 Russian Federation 304 3.2 -36 8 Singapore 246 2.6 -23
- retained imports b 114 1.2 -28
9 Singapore 270 2.9 -20 9 India 244 2.5 -24
- domestic exports 138 1.5 -21- re-exports 132 1.4 -19
10 Mexico 230 2.4 -21 10 Mexico 242 2.5 -24
11 Taipei, Chinese 204 2.2 -20 11 Russian Federation c 192 2.0 -3412 Saudi Arabia a 189 2.0 -40 12 Taipei, Chinese 175 1.8 -2713 United Arab Emirates a 175 1.9 -27 13 Australia 165 1.7 -17
14 Switzerland 173 1.8 -14 14 Switzerland 156 1.6 -15
15 Malaysia 157 1.7 -21 15 Turkey 141 1.5 -3016 India 155 1.6 -20 16 United Arab Emirates a 140 1.5 -2117 Australia 154 1.6 -18 17 Thailand 134 1.4 -25
18 Brazil 153 1.6 -23 18 Brazil 134 1.4 -27
19 Thailand 152 1.6 -14 19 Malaysia 124 1.3 -2120 Norway 121 1.3 -30 20 Saudi Arabia a 92 1.0 -2021 Indonesia 120 1.3 -14 21 Indonesia 92 1.0 -28
22 Turkey 102 1.1 -23 22 South Africa a 72 0.7 -28
23 Iran, Islamic Rep. of a 78 0.8 -31 23 Viet Nam 69 0.7 -1524 South Africa 63 0.7 -22 24 Norway 69 0.7 -23
25 Bolivarian Rep. of Venezuela 58 0.6 -39 25 Iran, Islamic Rep. of a 51 0.5 -10
26 Kuwait a 57 0.6 -35 26 Israel a 49 0.5 -2727 Viet Nam 57 0.6 -10 27 Philippines 46 0.5 -2428 Argentina 56 0.6 -20 28 Ukraine 45 0.5 -47
29 Chile 53 0.6 -20 29 Egypt 45 0.5 -7
30 Nigeria a 53 0.6 -36 30 Chile 42 0.4 -32
Total of above d 8504 90.3 - Total of above d 8602 89.6 -World d (excl. intra-EU (27)) 9419 100.0 -22 World d (excl. intra-EU (27)) 9605 100.0 -23
a. Secretariat estimates.
b. Singapore’s retained imports are defined as imports less re-exports.c. Imports are valued f.o.b.d. Includes significant re-exports or imports for re-export.
 PRESS/598 
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Appendix  Chart 1
Monthly merchandise exports and imports of selected economies, January 2006 - January 2010
(Billion dollars)
United States European Union (27) extra-trade
Germany France
United Kingdom Italy020406080
2006 2007 2008 20090306090120150
2006 2007 2008 2009
010203040506070
2006 2007 2008 2009
Ex por ts Imports050100150200250
2006 2007 2008 2009050100150200250
2006 2007 2008 2009
010203040506070
2006 2007 2008 2009
Exports Imports
 PRESS/598 
Page 13 of 15 
 
 
Appendix  Chart 1 (continued)
Monthly merchandise exports and imports of selected economies, January 2006 - January 2010
(Billion dollars)
Japan China (Jan 2010)
Republic of Korea India
Russian Federation Brazil (Jan 2010)05101520253035
2006 2007 2008 2009
01020304050
2006 2007 2008 2009
Exports Imports0510152025
2006 2007 2008 2009
Exports Imports01020304050
2006 2007 2008 20090306090120150
2006 2007 2008 2009020406080100
2006 2007 2008 2009
 PRESS/598 
Page 14 of 15 
 
 
Appendix  Chart 1 (continued)
Monthly merchandise exports and imports of selected economies, January 2006 - January 2010
(Billion dollars)
Turkey MexicoChinese Taipei (Jan2010) Singapore (Jan. 2010)
Malaysia Thailand
0510152025
2006 2007 2008 2009048121620
2006 2007 2008 2009051015202530
2006 2007 2008 2009010203040
2006 2007 2008 2009
0510152025
2006 2007 2008 2009
Ex por ts Imports010203040
2006 2007 2008 2009
Ex por ts Imports
 PRESS/598 
Page 15 of 15 
 
 
Appendix  Chart 1 (continued)
Monthly merchandise exports and imports of selected economies, January 2006 - January 2010
(Billion dollars)
Sources: IMF International Financial Statistics, Global Trade Information Serv ices GTA database, national statistics.Indonesia South AfricaAustralia Canada
Argentina Chile
02468
2006 2007 2008 200902468
2006 2007 2008 200901020304050
2006 2007 2008 2009
0246810121416
2006 2007 2008 2009
Ex por ts Imports024681012
2006 2007 2008 2009
Exports Imports048121620
2006 2007 2008 2009
 
    END