WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/AG/S/19 
26 April 2005 
 (05-1685) 
Committee on Agriculture 
Special Session  
 
 
AGRICULTURAL TRADE PERFORMANCE BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
1990-2003  
 
Note by the Secretariat1 
 
 
1. The present paper reviews the agricultural trade performance by developing countries over 
the period 1990-2003.2 
 2. The statistical analysis presented in the pape r is based on the data contained in the Network 
of world merchandise trade prepared by the WTO Secr etariat, according to a definition of agricultural 
products in the SITC Rev.3 which approximates th e product coverage of Annex 1 of the Agreement 
on Agriculture (see Annex I of this paper).  He nce throughout the paper, the terms "agricultural 
products", "agricultural exports", "a gricultural imports" and "agricultura l trade" relate to the definition 
of agricultural products under the Agreement on Agriculture.  
3. The paper is organized in five Sections: 
  (i) Section I  provides information on developing countries' exports of agricultural 
products, mining products, and manufactures and products not elsewhere specified, 
and related world market shares. 
 
 (ii) In Section II the regional pattern of agricultura l exports from Africa, developing 
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East is presented, including information on South/South trade.  This Section also provides data on agricultural imports of developed countries from all origins as well as from developing countries. 
 
(iii) Section III  examines developing countries' ag ricultural exports by product group. 
The products specified in this Section were selected on the basis of their respective ranking, in value terms, in total agricu ltural exports of thre e developing regions 
(Africa, developing Asia, Latin America a nd the Caribbean) under consideration for 
the most recent year for which data were available.  Each of the three developing 
regions is represented by samples covering only a limited number of countries for 
which a complete set of data and a c onsistent time-series from 1990 to 2003 is 
available. 
  (iv) Section IV  examines trade flows of tropical ag ricultural products.  As a result of 
limited data availability, data is presente d only for the top ten exporters and importers 
for the period 1999-2003. 
  (v) Section V  provides information on the trade flows of least-developed countries. 
 
                                                     
 
1 This document has been prepared  under the Secretariat's own respon sibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO. 
2 The statistical coverage of this paper incl udes WTO Members and non-Members.  The terms 
"country" or "countries" used in this paper are to be understood to include any separate customs territory 
Member of the WTO. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 2  
 
 4. The statistical information contained in th is paper is based on trade values in current 
US dollars.  With the exception of Section IV, average annual growth rates are presented for the 
periods 1990-1995, 1995-2000, 2000-2003 and 1995-2003.  The statistical information presented in 
Sections I-V should be read in conjunction with th e technical notes at the end of this paper which 
provide further detail on data sources, area defin itions and the definition of  "agricultural products" 
and "tropical agricultural products".   
 
General Observations 
 
5. It should be noted that when examining trade in agricultural products over the 1990-2003 
period, there are a number of important economic events which have impacted, not only on the trade 
performance of developing countries, but also on the world agricultural trading environment as a whole.  These events, which help to expl ain trends in the trade data, include: 
 
• The conclusion of the Uruguay Round Agreemen t in 1994.  The implementation of agreed 
commitments started in 1995 and ran through un til 2000 for developed countries and up to 
2004 for developing countries. 
 
• Financial crises severely affecting many developi ng countries in Asia during the latter part of 
the 1990s.  A currency crisis also affects Russi a in the late 1990s.  In 1999 Brazil devalues the 
Real, while Argentina suffers from a political a nd economic crisis in late 2001, early 2002. 
 
• A proliferation of bilateral and regional trade agreements since the establishment of the 
WTO.
3 
 
• The entry of The People's Republic of Chin a into the World Trade Organization in 
December 2001. 
 
• New and continued animal health-related out breaks, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) 
and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). 
 
 
Overall Trends 
 
6. Taking into account the above factors, the following points provide a brief exposition of the 
trade performance of developing countries over th e 1990-2003 period as set out in Sections I-V. 
 
• Trade in agricultural products remains an important economic activity for developing 
countries.  Between 1990 and 2003, exports of agricultural goods by developing countries 
rose by 77 per cent, from 83 billion to 147 billio n dollars, exceeding world agricultural trade 
growth (excluding intra-EC trade) of 66 per cent. 
 
• Reflecting developing countries stronger growth  in agricultural exports (than that of 
developed countries), their share of world ag ricultural exports has increased from 39 per cent 
in 1990 to approximately 42 per cent in 2003.  Ho wever, their share s till remains less than 
half of total world agricultural exports. 
 
                                                      
3 According to the WTO Secretariat, some 250 region al trade agreements (RTAs) have been notified to 
the GATT/WTO as at December 2002, of which over 130 were notified after January 1995 (i.e. after the 
establishment of the WTO).  It is estimated that an additional 70 RTAs are operational but have not yet been 
notified to the WTO.   TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 3 
 
 
 • Despite the positive performance of agricultural export growth by developing countries, it 
was, however, significantly outpaced by developing countries' export growth in 
manufacturing goods which expanded by ove r three times that of agriculture. 
 
• As a result of the strong growth in the e xport performance of the manufacturing sector in 
developing countries, the relative importance of ag ricultural products in developing countries' 
total merchandise exports has declined over the 1990-2003 period. 
 
• While total agricultural trade by developing count ries has expanded, it has fluctuated over the 
1990-2003 period and has been influenced by various external economic factors.  For example, exports of agricultural products cont racted during the latter part of the 1990s as 
several economies in the world experienced financial crises. 
 
• Improved economic performance during the early part of the new millennium has helped 
restore positive annual growth ra tes for developing countries.  Agricultural export growth by 
developing countries expanded by 3, 6
½ and 15 ½ per cent respectively in the years 2001-
2003. 
  Leading Developing Country Agricultural Exporters 
 
• Developing Asia and Latin America and th e Caribbean remain the dominant exporting 
developing regions, accounting for over 80 per cen t of total developing country agricultural 
exports in 2003.  Over the 1990-2003, the La tin American and Caribbean region overtook 
developing Asia to hold the largest share of de veloping country agricultural exports.  Of the 
four developing country regions examined in th is paper, Africa is the only region to have 
suffered a loss in its share of world agricultura l trade, declining from approximately six per 
cent in 1990 to around five per cent in 2003. 
 
• Agricultural exports from the Latin American and Caribbean region are heavily dominated by 
a few countries.  The top three exporters, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, accounted for 55 per 
cent of the total agricultural exports from th e region in 1990.  By 2003, this share had 
increased to 71 per cent.  Much of this increase can be attributed to Brazil – whose share rose 
from one quarter of the region's agricultural exports to one third. 
 
• Agricultural exports from developing Asia contin ue to be dominated by China, Malaysia, 
Thailand, India and Indonesia who collectively ha ve increased their share of the region's 
agricultural exports from 68 to 78 per cent.  Of these five countries, Ma laysia has experienced 
the greatest increase in export share, rising fro m 10 to 15 per cent of all developing Asia 
agricultural exports and overtaking Thailand as the second largest exporter behind China. 
 
• South Africa remains the dominant agricultura l exporter within Africa, accounting for around 
17 per cent of total agricultural exports from Africa throughout the 1990-2003 period.  Other countries in the region continue to have sma ll export shares, reflecting the relatively small 
level of agricultural export orientation of these countries. 
  
Export Destinations 
 
• While Western Europe remains the leading deve loped country market for agricultural exports 
of developing countries, its relative importan ce has declined over the 1990-2003 period as a 
result of strong growth in trade between developing countries, or South/South trade. 
 TN/AG/S/19 
Page 4  
 
 • South/South trade, as a share of developing count ries' total agricultural export trade, increased 
from 32 to 46 per cent over the 1990-2003 period. 
 
• Of the developing country regions as export des tinations, intra-regional trade continues to 
dominate the landscape.  Outside of intra-regi onal trade, developing Asia remains the key 
export market for agricultural products, reflecti ng its relatively large size and population.  
Nonetheless, annual growth in developing coun try agricultural exports to Africa and the 
Middle East of 8 and 7
½ per cent respectively, outperform ed both developing Asia and Latin 
America and the Caribbean.  As a result, Africa and the Middle East overtook the Latin 
American and Caribbean region to become the second and third largest destinations, 
respectively, for other developing countries agricultural exports, be hind developing Asia. 
 
• Developed countries' imports of agricultural products from LDCs have generally trended 
downwards over the 1990-2003 period.  The EC(15) remains the largest importer of 
agricultural products from LDCs by a considerab le margin, though its relative importance has 
declined during the 1990-2003 period. 
  Export Profile  
• Fruit and vegetables, coffee, tea, cocoa and spice exports remain the key export items for 
many developing countries.  While these pr oducts remain important, Africa and Latin 
America and the Caribbean have witnessed a shif t towards other "non-traditional" products 
over the 1990-2003 period. 
 
• Exports of tropical agricultural products feature highly for many developing countries, though 
large developing country agricultural exporters dominate the trade.  However, the relative 
importance of tropical agricultural exports in  total agricultural exports to the larger 
developing agricultural exporters tends to be lower than that of many smaller and poorer 
developing country exporters. 
 
• The main tropical agricultural product exports are oilseeds and vegetable oils, tropical roots, 
rice and tobacco.  Exports of tropical beverages have become relatively less important over the 1999-2003 period. 
 
• The EC(15), the United States and Japan continue  to be the main export destinations for 
tropical agricultural products, followed by Chin a and India.  With the exception of India, 
tropical products account for around 20-25 per cent of all agricultural imports by these 
countries (for India it is around 50 per cent). 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 5 
 
 
 SECTION I:  OVERVIEW  
 
7. Table I.1, I.2 and Chart I.1 provide an ove rview of the value and growth of developing 
countries' merchandise exports by major product group and the growth of agricultural exports by region for the period 1990 to 2003.  Tables I.3 and I.4 show the shares of developing countries' 
exports in world exports of agricultural products  by region and in world merchandise exports by 
major product group for the same period.  
Table I.1
: World Merchandise Exports and Merchandi se Exports of Developing Countries 
by Major Product Group, 1990-2003 (Billion dollars) 
 
 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
World  
Agricultural products 212 299 324 327 304 285 289 297 309 352 
Mining products  421 468 542 557 437 512 764 700 693 840 
Manufactures and products n.e.s 1,783 2, 916 3,012 3,208 3,193 3,332 3,768 3,593 3,772 4,306 
Developing Countries  
Agricultural products 83 119 128 132 126 119 116 119 127 147 
Mining products 263 266 319 327 244 308 464 413 408 499 
Manufactures and products n.e.s 448 899 933 1,018 1,004 1,083 1,292 1,221 1,331 1,546 
 
Note :  Data for World  excludes intra-EC trade. 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
 Chart I.1
: Agricultural Exports of the World and Developing Countries, 1990-2003 
   (Billion dollars) 
 
050100150200250300350400
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003World 
Developing Countries
 
Note :  Data for World  excludes intra-EC trade. 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 6  
 
 Table I.2:
 Growth of Agricultural Exports by Country Region, 1995-2003  
   (Percentage change) 
 
Annual Growth Average Annual Growth 
Region 
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 90-
95 95-
00 00-
03 95-
03 
World 15½ 8½ 1 -7 -6½ 1 3 4 14 7 -½ 7 2 
Developed 
Countries 15½ 6½ 0 -8½ -5½ 4 2½ 1 11½ 7 -1 5 1½ 
Developing 
Countries 14½ 7½ 3 -4 -5½ -3 3 6½ 15½ 7½ -½ 8 2½ 
     of which: 
     Africa 16 9 -3 -1 -3 -17 3½ 9 20½ 5 -3½ 11 1½ 
     Developing Asia 13 4½ -½ -5½ -4 0 -1 10½ 15 9½ -1½ 8 2 
     Latin America 
     and Caribbean 16½ 10½ 10½ -4 -9½ -1 6 1½ 16 6½ 1 8 3½ 
Other Countries 21 36 -4½ -16 -17½ 6 10 14½ 26 8 -1 17 5½ 
 
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-
2003 (Percentage) 
 
  1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
All Developing 
Countries 39 39½ 39½ 40 41½ 42 40 40 41 41½ 
     of which: 
     Africa 6 5½ 5½ 5 5½ 5½ 4½ 4½ 5 5 
     Developing Asia  15 16½ 16 15½ 16 16½ 16 15½ 16½ 16½ 
     Latin America and 
     the Caribbean 16 15½ 16 17½ 18 17½ 17 17½ 17½ 17½ 
     Middle East 2 2 2 2 2 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 
 
Note :  The shares are expressed as a percentage of wo rld agricultural exports, ex cluding intra-EC trade. 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 7 
 
 
 Table I.4:  Developing Countries' Share of World Merchandise Exports by Major Product 
Group, 1990-2003 (Percentage)  
 
 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
Share of developing countries 
in world merchandise exports  33 35 35½ 36 35 36½ 39 38 39 40 
     of which: 
     Agricultural products   3½ 3 3½ 3 3 3 2½ 2 ½ 2 ½ 2 ½ 
     Mining products 11 7 8 8 6 7½ 9½ 9 8½ 9 
     Manufactures and products 
     n.e.s 18½ 24½ 24 25 25½ 26 27 26½ 28 28 
 
Note :  The shares are expressed as a percentage of worl d merchandise exports, excluding intra-EC trade.  
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 8  
 
 SECTION II:  REGIONAL PATTERN OF TRADE
 
 
8. This Section looks at the export perfor mance of developing countries from a regional 
perspective.  Tables II.1-II.3 present the regional patt ern of exports of agricultural products from four 
developing regions, including South/South trade.  
 
9. Chart II.1 and Table II.4 show develope d countries' imports, and import growth, of 
agricultural products over the 1990-2003 period.  Impor ts are broken into two categories of origin – 
all origins (i.e. imports from the world) and developing country origin.   TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 9 
 
 
 Table II.1 : Developing Countries' Exports of Agri cultural Products by Region and by 
Destination, 1990-2003 (Million dollars) 
 
Destination 
Origin Year North 
America Western 
Europe Japan Australia 
New Zealand Economies in 
Transition Developing 
Countries 
Africa 1990 688 7,466 567 28 390  3,006 
 1995 737 9,577 473 61 488  4,207 
 1996 899 9,561 561 55 666  5,410 
 1997 942 9,350 471 59 649  5,117 
 1998 882 9,249 472 58 639  5,094 
 1999 853 8,393 447 61 674  5,633 
 2000 714 6,249 358 50 353  5,524 
 2001 896 6,548 428 40 359  5,371 
 2002 1,076 7,196 418 46 456  5,716 
 2003 1,384 8,581 493 67 572  6,947 
Developing Asia 1990 2,396 5,874 5,947 447 2,836  14,310 
 1995 3,604 7,602 9,490 700 1,712  26,644 
 1996 4,231 8,034 10,003 702 1,629  27,297 
 1997 4,410 8,535 8,094 705 1,891  27,894 
 1998 4,409 8,382 7,452 716 1,600  26,022 
 1999 4,495 7,874 7,967 761 1,279  24,165 
 2000 4,524 7,264 8,058 695 1,252  24,667 
 2001 4,302 6,864 7,992 656 1,439  24,686 
 2002 4,738 7,110 7,763 797 1,777  28,244 
 2003 5,395 8,366 8,366 979 2,505  32,625 
Latin America and 1990 8,756 11,497 1,127 82 5,101  7,645 
the Caribbean 1995 11,413 15,889 1,430 171 1,501  16,485 
 1996 12,052 16,990 1,676 182 2,219  18,493 
 1997 13,680 18,819 1,899 180 2,269  20,273 
 1998 13,760 16,915 1,972 160 2,112  20,050 
 1999 13,971 15,819 1,591 188 1,826  16,407 
 2000 14,270 14,796 1,526 279 1,565  16,834 
 2001 13,469 15,048 1,474 198 2,574  19,635 
 2002 13,946 15,787 1,479 164 2,580  19,367 
 2003 16,006 18,409 1,563 192 3,699  21,828 
Middle East 1990 129 1,912 62 12 573  1,375 
 1995 229 1,994 113 18 146  3,132 
 1996 254 2,246 119 24 326  3,087 
 1997 251 2,043 104 19 192  3,011 
 1998 287 1,810 82 19 233  2,955 
 1999 293 1,686 88 24 251  3,746 
 2000 299 1,779 102 26 212  4,171 
 2001 344 1,688 76 20 257  4,588 
 2002 344 1,707 71 21 269  4,745 
 2003 403 1,943 71 28 295  4,997 
Total of the Four 1990 11,970 26,749 7,704 568 8,900 26,336 
Developing 1995 15,982 35,062 11,506 951 3,848 50,468 
Regions Above 1996 17,436 36,831 12,359 963 4,839 54,288 
 1997 19,283 38,747 10,568 963 5,001 56,295 
 1998 19,338 36,356 9,979 952 4,584 54,122 
 1999 19,611 33,773 10,094 1,035 4,030 49,951 
 2000 19,807 30,086 10,044 1,050 3,381 51,197 
 2001 19,011 30,147 9,969 915 4,629 54,281 
 2002 20,104 31,799 9,731 1,030 5,082 58,073 
 2003 23,188 37,299 10,493 1,265 7,071 66,398 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 10  
 
 Table II.2
: Developing Countries' Exports of Agri cultural Products by Region and by 
Developing Region Destinat ion, 1990-2003 (Million dollars) 
 
Destination 
Origin Year Africa Developing 
Asia Latin America 
and the 
Caribbean Middle 
East All Developing 
Countries 
1990 1,664 907 83 353 3,006 
1995 2,085 1,467 179 476 4,207 
1996 2,474 1,843 439 655 5,410 
1997 2,436 1,689 381 611 5,117 
1998 2,330 1,737 239 788 5,094 
1999 2,296 1,971 318 1,048 5,633 
2000 2,797 1,539 201 988 5,524 
2001 2,913 1,692 152 614 5,371 
2002 3,201 1,696 126 693 5,716 Africa   
2003 3,755 2,121 150 921 6,947 
1990 1,126 10,880 404 1,900 14,310 
1995 1,984 21,429 381 2,851 26,644 
1996 1,817 21,917 532 3,030 27,297 
1997 1,927 22,470 569 2,928 27,894 
1998 2,171 20,293 542 3,016 26,022 
1999 2,166 18,598 461 2,939 24,165 
2000 2,029 19,079 474 3,085 24,667 
2001 2,290 19,062 469 2,865 24,686 
2002 2,602 21,828 593 3,222 28,244 Developing Asia 
2003 3,256 24,990 620 3,759 32,625 
1990 935 1,526 4,038 1,147 7,645 
1995 1,732 3,867 9,197 1,690 16,485 
1996 1,914 4,201 10,463 1,915 18,493 
1997 2,133 4,839 11,055 2,246 20,273 
1998 2,099 3,847 11,831 2,273 20,050 
1999 1,646 3,368 9,445 1,947 16,407 
2000 1,576 3,511 9,830 1,917 16,834 
2001 2,140 4,713 10,131 2,652 19,635 
2002 2,409 5,057 9,264 2,637 19,367 Latin America and 
the Caribbean 
2003 3,221 6,306 9,255 3,046 21,828 
1990 81 171 36 1,086 1,375 
1995 267 434 48 2,383 3,132 
1996 193 315 63 2,517 3,087 
1997 372 380 52 2,207 3,011 
1998 313 293 58 2,502 2,955 
1999 177 511 77 3,216 3,746 
2000 192 485 71 3,423 4,171 
2001 178 516 66 3,828 4,588 
2002 173 551 53 3,968 4,745 Middle East 
2003 221 686 42 4,048 4,997 
1990 3,806 13,485 4,561 4,485 26,336 
1995 6,068 27,197 9,805 7,398 50,468 
1996 6,399 28,275 11,497 8,117 54,288 
1997 6,868 29,379 12,057 7,991 56,295 
1998 6,913 26,170 12,671 8,580 54,122 
1999 6,285 24,449 10,302 9,151 49,951 
2000 6,593 24,614 10,576 9,413 51,197 
2001 7,521 25,983 10,818 9,959 54,281 
2002 8,385 29,132 10,036 10,520 58,073 Total of the Four 
Developing 
Regions Above 
2003 10,454 34,103 10,066 11,774 66,398 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 11 
 
 
 Table II.3 : Share of Developing Country Agricultural Exports by Destination 
   (Percentage) 
 
 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
Developed Countries 57 54 53½ 53 53 54½ 53 50½ 50 49½ 
Developing Countries 32 43 43 43 43 42 44½ 45½ 46 45½ 
Economies in Transition 11 3 4 4 3½ 3½ 3 4 4 5 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
 Chart II.1
: Developed Countries' Imports of Agricu ltural Products by Origin, 1990-2003 
   (Million dollars)  
020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003From Developing Countries All origins
 
 
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 (Percentage) 
 
 1990-95 1995-00 2000-03 1995-2003 
From All Origins 5½ -½ 6 2 
From Developing Countries 6 -1 6 1½ 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 12  
 
 SECTION III: PRODUCT PATTERN OF EXPORTS
 
 
10. This Section provides information on the product pattern of developing countries' 
agricultural exports over the period 1990 to 2003.  For the purpose of this section, the respective 
leading agricultural export items, for Africa, deve loping Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean 
are identified on the basis of the 2-digit level of  SITC Rev.3 (for product descriptions see Box 1 
below).  Products and countries are ranked in descending order with respect to the 2003 value. 
 11. The aggregate export figures in Table III. 1 (Africa), Table III.4 (developing Asia) and 
Table III.7 (Latin America and the Caribbean) repres ent, in each case, only a sample of countries in 
the relevant region.  These samples include, for each  of the concerned regions, countries for which a 
full series of data for the period 1990-2003 is available.    12. For Africa, total exports of agricultural products of the ten sample countries combined 
accounted for approximately 47 per cent  of Africa's total agricultural exports in 2003.  Total exports 
of agricultural products of the 12 sample Asian countries combined accounted for  93 per cent  of total 
agricultural exports of developing Asia in 2003.  For Latin America and the Caribbean, total exports 
of agricultural products of the 14 sample countries combined accounted for 92 per cent of the total 
agricultural exports of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2003.  
13. Tables III.
3, III.6 and III.9 present average annual growth rates of the value of agricultural 
exports for the selected countries for the peri ods 1990-95, 1995-2000, 2000-2003 and 1995-2003. 
 
Box 1 
 
Product Descriptions 
 
 SITC Rev.3 Division Code - 
2-digit level   SITC Division Heading –Description  Abbreviations 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 preparat ions and honey Sugar 
07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and 
manufactures thereof Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 
08 Feeding stuff for animals (not incl. 
unmilled cereals) Feeding stuff 
12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures Tobacco 
26 Textile fibres (other than wool tops and 
other combed wool) and their wastes (not 
manufactured into yarn or fabric) Natural fibres  
42 Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, 
refined or fractionated Vegetable oils and fats  
  TN/AG/S/19
 Page 13 
Table III.1 : Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries by Product Group, 1990-2003 
 
 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars 
Fruit & vegetables  1,811 1,980 1,757 1,647 1, 636 2,066 2,096 1,973 2,099 2, 159 1,851 1,827 2,029 2,643 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 606 656 593 700 914 935 925 964 1,016 852 881 909 549 974 
Natural fibres 711 543 406 303 613 546 493 566 543 604 614 529 720 749 
Sugar 766 694 539 487 633 693 991 803 816 715 658 772 656 713 
Tobacco 397 514 508 442 757 603 858 759 656 811 778 804 393 712 
Sub-total 4,291 4,386 3,802 3,579 4,553 4,843 5,363 5,065 5,131 5,141 4,782 4,841 4,347 5,791 
   
Other agricultural products 1,230 1,198 1,210 1,347 2,223 2,077 2,378 2,224 1,907 1,912 1,793 1,839 2,136 2,603 
   
Total 5,521 5,584 5,013 4,926 6,776 6,920 7, 741 7,289 7,038 7,053 6,575 6,680 6,483 8,394 
 Percentage Share of Total  
Selected products (Sub-
total) 78 79 76 73 67 70 69 69 73 73 73 72 67 69 
Other agricultural products 22 21 24 27 33 30 31 31 27 27 27 28 33 31 
 
Note :  The data represents the agricultural exports of Algeria, Egyp t, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Afr ica, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. 
 Source
:  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates (South Africa and Zimbabwe). TN/AG/S/19 
Page 14  
 
 Table III.2
: Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries, 1990-2003 
 
 Value of Agricultural Exports Share in Total Agricultural 
Exports from Africa 
  1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 1990 1995 2000 2003 
  Million dollars Percentage 
South Africa 2,212  2,352  2, 238 2,353 2,479 3,123 18 15 17 17½ 
Kenya 517  1,112  1,018 1,043 562 1,284 4 7 7½ 7 
Morocco  661  804  700 721 830 1,002 5½ 5 5½ 5½ 
Egypt 486  549  619 648 803 948 4 3½ 4½ 5 
Zimbabwe 748  898  1,126 801 782 859 6 5½ 8½ 5 
Tunisia 282  470  431 456 393 472 2½ 3 3 2½ 
Mauritius 385  417  246 326 338 372 3 2½ 2 2 
Madagascar 181  208  171 312 254 283 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 
Algeria 49  109  34 27 41 50 ½ ½ ½ ½ 
Seychelles 1  2  1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 
Total of above 5,520  6,920  6,584 6,688 6,483 8,394 44½ 43 ½ 49 ½ 46 ½ 
Total Africa 12,379  15,819  13,281 13,736 14,970 18,068 100 100 100 100 
 
Note :  Zero indicates a value less than half of one per cent. 
 Source
:  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates (South Africa and Zimbabwe). 
 
   Table III.3
: Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries by 
Product Group (Percentage) 
 
 1990-95 1995-00 2000-03 1995-03 
Fruit & vegetables 2½ -2 12½ 3 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 9 -1 3½ ½ 
Natural fibres -5 2½ 7 4 
Sugar -2 -1 2½ ½ 
Tobacco 8½ 5 -3 2 
Other agricultural products 11 -3 13 3 
 
Note :  The date represent the agricultural exports of Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, 
Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade and WTO Secretar iat estimates (South Africa and Zimbabwe). 
  
  TN/AG/S/19
 Page 15 
Table III.4 : Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing Countries by Product, 1990-2003 
 
 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars 
Fruit & vegetables 5,586 6,163 6,505 6,407 7, 177 7,678 7,730 7,209 6,484 7, 557 7,471 7,729 8,536 9,812 
Vegetable oils & fats 2,772 3,022 3,703 3,783 5,598 6,722 6,445 7, 760 7,143 6,568 5,294 4,828 7,318 9,035 
Cereals (incl. rice) 2,793 3,811 4,336 4,225 4,666 5,055 5,132 5, 818 6,510 5,257 5,545 5,274 6,519 7,930 
Natural fibres 3,349 3,198 3,247 2,982 3,416 3,926 4,305 4,063 3,032 3,240 3,985 3,082 3,498 4,038 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 3,151 2,992 2,784 2, 967 3,895 4,176 3,980 4,492 4,556 4,053 3,735 3,210 3,614 3,889 
Meat 2,019 2,602 2,376 2,483 3,037 3,932 4, 066 2,666 2,389 2,387 2,508 2,854 2,823 3,115 
Sub-total 19,669 21,788 22,951 22,846 27,790 31,489 31,658 32,007 30,114 29,060 28,538 26,977 32,309 37,819 
  
Other agricultural products 10,234 11,054 12,290 12,175 13,460 15,521 16,548 14,947 13,418 12,337 12,747 13,768 14,498 16,496 
  
Total 29,904 32,842 35,241 35,021 41,250 47,010 48, 206 46,954 43,532 41,397 41, 285 40,745 46,807 54,315 
 Percentage Share of Total 
Selected products (Sub-total) 66 66 65 65 67 67 66 68 69 70 69 66 69 70 
Other agricultural products 34 34 35 35 33 33 34 32 31 30 31 34 31 30 
 
Note :  The data represent the aggregate agricu ltural exports of: China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesi a; Macao, China; Malaysia;  Pakistan; Philippines; Republic 
of Korea; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; and Thailand. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretar iat estimates (Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand). TN/AG/S/19 
Page 16  
 
 Table III.5
: Agricultural Exports of Twelve Developing Asian Countries, 1990-2003 
 
Value of Agricultural Exports Share in Total Developing Asia 
Agricultural Exports 
1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 1990 1995 2000 2003 
  Million dollars Percentage 
China 8,545 11,483 11,951 11,950 13,514 15,974 27 23 25½ 27½ 
Malaysia 3,276 6,907 5,461 5, 319 7,211 8,995 10½ 14 11½ 15½ 
Thailand 4,597 6,864 6,094 6, 487 6,751 8,043 14½ 14 13 14 
India 2,971 5,345 5,072 5,089 5,612 6,616 9½ 10½ 11 11½ 
Indonesia 1,990 3,700 4,239 3, 761 5,347 5,667 6 7½ 9 9½ 
Singapore 2,590 4,371 2,849 2, 597 2,740 2,608 8 9 6 4½ 
Republic of Korea 1,163 1,669 1,596 1,673 1,706 1,935 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 
Philippines 1,221 1,875 1,529 1,531 1,510 1,867 4 4 3½ 3 
Pakistan 975 1,122 1,088 1, 040 1,083 1,217 3 2½ 2½ 2 
Chinese Taipei 1,808 2,927 1,019 939 939 976 5½ 6 2 1½ 
Hong Kong, China 747 669 351 323 345 362 2½ 1½ 1 ½ 
Macao, China 21 78 36 36 49 55 0 0 0 0 
Total of above  29,904 47,010 41,285 40,745 46,807 54,315 94 94½ 89 93 
Total Developing 
Asia 31,856 49,783 46,499 45,985 50,735 58,322 100 100 100 100 
 
Note :  Revised values for Hong Kong, China exclude re-exports. 
  Zero indicates a value less than half of one per cent. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretar iat estimates (Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand). 
 
 
 
Table III.6 : Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing  
Countries by Product Group (Percentage) 
 
 1990-95 1995-00 2000-03 1995-03 
Fruit & vegetables 6½ -½ 9½ 3 
Vegetable oils & fats 19½ -4½ 19½ 4 
Cereals (incl. rice) 12½ 2 12½ 6 
Natural fibres 3 ½ ½ ½ 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 6 -2 1½ -1 
Meat 14½ -8½ 7½ -3 
Other agricultural products 9 -4 9 1 
 
Note :   The data represent the aggregat e agricultural exports of: China;  Hong Kong, Chin a; India; Indonesia; 
Macao, China; Malaysia; Pakistan; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; and 
Thailand. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade and WTO Secretariat estimates (Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand).  
  TN/AG/S/19
 Page 17 
Table III.7 : Agricultural Export of Fourteen Latin American  and Caribbean Countries by Product Group, 1990-2003 
 
 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars 
Fruit & Vegetables 5,808 5, 925 6,348 6,111 6,914 8,360 9,194 9,186 9,778 9,760 9,303 9,368 9,608 11,368 
Feeding stuff 3,827 3,832 4,387 4,552 4,853 4, 976 7,088 7,209 4,841 4,740 5,629 6,319 6,729 7,802 
Meat 2,027 2,194 2,377 2,412 2,682 2,979 3, 171 3,319 3,220 3,464 3,592 4,043 4,510 5,777 
Cereals (incl. rice) 1,799 1,498 1,971 2,009 2,029 2,763 3,763 4, 510 4,394 3,164 3,520 4,143 3,543 4,116 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 4,187 4,256 3,566 3, 728 6,572 6,554 5,977 7,950 6,653 5,815 4,756 3,647 3,651 4,039 
Sugar 1,252 1,113 1,258 1,499 1,841 3,117 3, 016 3,208 3,488 3,143 2,404 3,513 3,497 3,648 
Sub-total 18,900 18,818 19,907 20,311 24,891 28,749 32,209 35,382 32,374 30,086 29,204 31,034 31,538 36,750 
  
Other agricultural products 7,083 7,018 6,831 7,142 9,467 11,548 11,713 13,225 15,349 13,285 13,220 15,020 15,818 20,126 
  
Total 25,983 25,836 26,738 27,453 34,358 40,297 43, 922 48,607 47,723 43,371 42, 424 46,054 47,356 56,876 
 Percentage Share of Total 
Selected products (Sub-total) 73 73 74 74 72 71 73 73 68 69 69 67 67 65 
Other agricultural products 27 27 26 26 28 29 27 27 32 31 31 33 33 35 
 
Note :  The data represent the aggregate agricu ltural exports of Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jam aica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, 
Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates (Jamaica). TN/AG/S/19 
Page 18  
 
 Table III.8
: Agricultural Exports of Fourteen La tin American and Caribbean Countries, 
1990-2003 
 
Value of Agricultural Exports Share in Total Latin American 
and Caribbean Agricultural 
Exports 
1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 1990 1995 2000 2003  
Million dollars Percentage 
Brazil 8,857 13,640 12,933 16,306 17,086 21,299 26 29 26 34½ 
Argentina 7,003 10,220 10,909 11, 107 11,244 14,007 20½ 22 22 22½ 
Mexico 2,907 5,806 7,745 7,572 7,695 8,757 8½ 12½ 15½ 14 
Chile 1,207 2,233 2,855 3,179 3,108 3,658 3½ 4½ 6 6 
Colombia 2,400 3,443 2,936 2, 712 2,748 2,843 7 7½ 6 4½ 
Ecuador 789 1,447 1,343 1,532 1,750 1,995 2½ 3 2½ 3 
Uruguay 768 917 1,008 857 853 1,100 2 2 2 2 
Paraguay 850 685 656 782 770 1,034 2½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 
Peru 304 629 648 645 772 855 1 1½ 1½ 1½ 
Bolivia 201 265 431 405 444 502 ½ ½ 1 1 
Jamaica 217 304 319 308 283 328 ½ ½ ½ ½ 
Trinidad and Tobago 112 170 233 255 240 225 ½ ½ ½ ½ 
Venezuela 310 467 333 316 288 205 1 1 ½ ½ 
Barbados 58 71 75 78 75 68 0 0 0 0 
Total of above 25,984 40,297 42,424 46,054 47,356 56,876 75½ 85 ½ 85 ½ 92 
Total Latin 
American and the Caribbean 34,318 47,028 49,515 52,531 53,431 61,957 100 100 100 100 
 
Note :  Zero indicates a value less than half of one per cent. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates (Jamaica). 
 
 
Table III.9 : Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Fourteen Latin American 
and Caribbean Countries by Product Group, 1990-2003 (Percentage) 
 
 1990-95 1995-00 2000-03 1995-03 
Fruit & vegetables 7½ 2 7 4 
Feeding stuff 5½ 2½ 11½ 6 
Meat 8 4 17 8½ 
Cereals (incl. rice) 9 5 5½ 5 
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 9½ -6 -5½ -6 
Sugar 20 -5 15 2 
Other agricultural products 10½ 2½ 15 7 
 
Note :  The data represent the aggregat e agricultural exports of Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, 
Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade and WT O Secretariat estimates (Jamaica).  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 19 
 
 
 SECTION IV: TRADE IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS  
 
14. This section provides information regardi ng trade in tropical agricultural products by 
developing countries.  There is no agreed definition of what constitutes a tropical agricultural product.  
The statistical data used for this analysis is based on the non-agreed non-official definition of "tropical 
agricultural products" used in TN/AG/S/17 (see An nex II for a list of products included in the non-
agreed non-official definition used in this paper).   The information provided in this paper is not 
intended to prejudge in anyway the scope or cont ent of the on-going negotiations with respect to 
tropical products and products of particular impor tance to the diversification of production from 
growing illicit narcotic crops. 
 
15. Tables IV.1 and IV.2 present data on the lead ing developing country exporters of tropical 
agricultural products by value and by share of total agricultural exports.  Table IV.3 provides 
information on the total value of tropical agricu ltural product exports by developing countries by 
product category while the leading importers of tropical agricultural products are set out in 
Table IV.4.  Further details on leading (devel oping country) exporters and importers by product 
category are set out in Annex III.  16. Countries included in Tables IV.1 and IV .4 (and Annex III) represent the ten leading 
(developing) exporters and importers of tropical agri cultural products based on their average level of 
exports or imports over th e 1999-2003 period.  They are then ra nked in descending order with respect 
to the year 2003 value.  Countries represented in Ta ble IV.2 are the ten leading exporters according to 
the share of tropical agricultural products in total agricultural exports for the year 2003.   
Table IV.1
: Leading Developing Country Exporters of  Tropical Agricultural Products by 
Value, 1999-2003 
 
Value of Tropical Agricultural Product Exports Tropical Agricultural  Product Exports as 
a Share of Total Agriculture Exports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars Percentage 
Malaysia 5,384 4,137 3,953 5, 506 7,339 79½ 76 74½ 79 81½ 
Indonesia 3,625 3,475 2,948 4, 536 4,814 81½ 82 78½ 85 85 
Brazil 4,021 3,328 3,039 3,142 3,606 29 26 18½ 18½ 17 
China 2,725 2,892 2,878 3,063 3,627 26 24 24 22½ 22½ 
India 3,486 3,212 2,871 3,385 3,451 74½ 63½ 56½ 60½ 52 
Côte d'Ivoire (a) 2,470 1,970 1,980 2,510 3,360 89 86½ 89 96 93½ 
Thailand 3,210 2,705 2,749 ... 3,283 51 44½ 42½ ... 41 
Colombia 2,688 2,346 1,991 2,114 2,171 84 80 73½ 77 76½ 
Ecuador 1,421 1,175 1,326 1,552 1,781 89 87½ 86½ 88½ 89½ 
Singapore 1,011 1,604 1,364 1, 372 1,195 33 56½ 52½ 50 45 
 
Note :   (a) Secretariat estimate. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 20  
 
  
Table IV.2
: Leading Developing Country Exporters of  Tropical Agricultural Products by 
Share of Total Agricultural Exports 
 
Exports of Tropical Agricultural Pro ducts as a Share of Total Agricultural 
Exports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Percentage 
Papua New Guinea ... ... ... 96½ 97 
Côte d'Ivoire (a) 89 86½ 89 96 93½ 
Ecuador 89 87½ 86½ 88½ 89½ 
Rwanda ... ... 97½ 91½ 89 
Madagascar 71 75½ 86½ 88 88 
Indonesia 81½ 82 78½ 85 85 
Malaysia 79½ 75½ 74½ 78½ 81½ 
Dominica 87 83 80 78½ 76½ 
Colombia 84 80 73½ 77 76½ 
Kenya 57½ 81 80½ 72½ 75½ 
 
Note :  (a) Secretariat estimate. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database. 
 
 
 
   
Table IV.3
: Total Value and Growth of Developing Country Tropical Agricultural Product 
Exports by Category, 1999-2003 (Million dollars and Percentage) 
 
Value of Exports Growth   
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 99-03 
Oilseeds, Vegetable Oils 9,577 8,753 8,045 11,183 14,199 48½ 
Tropical Roots, Rice, Tobacc o 9,105 10,048 10,693 8,202 10,694 17½ 
Tropical Nuts and Fruits 7,098 7,455 7,476 7,243 8,683 22½ 
Tropical Beverages 11,672 9,661 8,196 8,302 8,588 -26½ 
Spices, Flowers and Plants et c. 4,919 5,439 5,420 5,656 5,975 21½ 
TOTAL 42,371 41,356 39,830 40,587 48,139 13½ 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database. 
 
   
 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 21 
 
 
 Table IV.4 : Leading Importers of Tropical Agricu ltural Products by Value, 1999-2003 
 
Value of Tropical Agricultural Product Imports Tropical Agricultur al Product Imports 
as a Share of Total Agriculture Imports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003  
Million dollars Percentage 
EC(15) 37,220 36,896 36,908 40,182 48,838 19½ 21 20½ 20½ 20½ 
United States 13,219 12,901 11,765 12,154 13,684 30 28 25½ 24½ 25½ 
Japan 4,953 7,408 6,512 6,617 7,087 14 20½ 18½ 19½ 19 
China 1,436 1,620 1,693 2,064 3,078 20½ 17 16½ 20 18½ 
India 1,888 1,453 1,340 1,891 2,602 48 50½ 36 47 53 
Russian Federation 1,655 1,778 1, 916 2,202 2,493 21 24½ 22 22½ 22½ 
Canada 1,925 2,038 1,999 2, 093 2,435 17½ 17½ 16 16 16½ 
Switzerland 1,248 1,217 1,130 1, 245 1,447 24 24½ 23 23½ 22½ 
Hong Kong, China 1,577 1,564 1, 507 1,517 1,414 19 18½ 18½ 19 17½ 
Saudi Arabia 1,311 1,492 1, 215 1,198 1,370 27½ 28 26 23 23 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database. 
 
    
 
    
 TN/AG/S/19 
Page 22  
 
 SECTION V: LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCs)
 
 
17. This Section provides information on the trade performance of LDCs, as a group, during the period 1990 to 2003.
4  For reasons of data availability, the information presented is based on 
developed countries' import statistics.   It should be noted therefore, that only part of the agricultural 
exports of LDCs are covered, as LDCs also trade among themselves and with other developing 
countries.  18. Table V.1 presents the merchandise trade im ports of the European Communities(15), the 
United States and Japan from the LDCs from 1990 to 2003.  Charts V.1, V.2 and Table V.2 present 
data on the imports of agricultural products of th e EC(15), the United States and Japan and of other 
developed countries from the LDCs.  
 
 Table V.1
: Merchandise Trade of the EC(15), the United States and Japan with the LDCs, 
1990-2003 (Million dollars and Percentage) 
 
1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 1990 1995 2000 2003 
Imports from LDCs 
Import Value Share of Imports from LDCs 
EC(15)    
     Total merchandise 9, 571 9,858 11,739 12,702 13,060 14,186 100 100 100 100 
     Agricultural products 1,812 2,517 1,601 1,325 1, 363 1,569 19 25½ 13½ 11 
     Mining products 4,352 1,455 2,272 3,071 3,498 3,362 45½ 15 19½ 23½ 
     Manufactures and 
     products n.e.s 3,407 5,886 7,866 8,306 8, 199 9,255 35½ 59½ 67 65 
United States   
     Total merchandise 4, 608 4,988 9,829 9,819 9,591 11,525 100 100 100 100 
     Agricultural products 271 258 237 287 287 378 6 5 2½ 3½ 
     Mining products 3,033 2, 843 4,489 4,199 4,255 5,700 66 57 45½ 49½ 
     Manufactures and 
     products n.e.s 1,304 1,887 5,103 5,333 5, 049 5,447 28½ 38 52 47½ 
Japan   
     Total merchandise 1, 264 1,590 1,238 1,105 1,591 1,584 100 100 100 100 
     Agricultural products 212 268 232 165 143 178 17 17 18½ 11 
     Mining products 651 663 448 473 958 827 51½ 41½ 36 52 
     Manufactures and  
     products n.e.s 401 659 558 467 490 579 31½ 41½ 45 36½ 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates. 
 
 
                                                      
4 The United Nations has designated 50 countries as least-developed: Afghanistan, Angola, 
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Democratic Re public of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the 
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, the La o People's Democratic Re public, Lesotho, Liberia, 
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozamb ique, Myanmar, Nepal, the Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, 
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, the Sudan, Timor Leste, Togo, 
Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia. 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 23 
 
 
 Chart V.1 : Developed Countries' Imports from LDCs, 1990-2003   
   (Million dollars) 
 
 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
 
Chart V.2 : Developed Countries' Agricultural Impo rts from LDCs by Destination, 1999-
2003 (Million dollars) 
  
04008001,2001,6002,0002,400
1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
EU (15) United States Japan Other Developed Countries
 
 
Source :  WTO Secretariat. 
 
 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003Agricultural Im ports Total Merchandise Imports TN/AG/S/19 
Page 24  
 
 Table V.2
: Developed Countries' Share, and Aver age Annual Growth, of Imports of 
Agricultural Products from the LDCs, 1990-2003 (Percentage) 
 
Share of Imports from LDCs Average Annual Growth of Agricultural 
Imports from LDCs  
1990 1995 2000 2003 1990-95 1995-00 2000-03 1995-03 
EC (15) 62½ 81 73½ 67½ 7 -8½ -½ -5½ 
United States 9½ 8½ 11 16½ -1 -1½ 17 5 
Japan 7½ 8½ 10½ 7½ 5 -3 -8½ -5 
Other Developed Countries 20½ 2 5 8½ -36 10 23½ 15 
Total 100 100 100 100 1½ -7 2 -3½ 
 
Note :  Other developed countries includes other Western Europe (i.e. non EC(15)), Canada, Australia and 
New Zealand. 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates. 
 
  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 25 
 
 
 ANNEX I  
Agreement on Agriculture coverage in terms of SITC Rev.3 
SITC Rev.3 
Code Description 
0 Food and live animals 
Excluding:  
03 Fish (not marine mammals), crus taceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates, and preparations thereof 
012.93 Snails (other than sea snails) 
081.42 Flours, meals and pellets, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or othe r aquatic invertebrates, unfit for 
human consumption 
1 Beverages and tobacco 
22 Oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits 
4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes 
Excluding:  
411.1 Fats and oils and their fractions, of  fish or marine mammals, whether or not refined, but not chemically 
modified 
21 Hides, skins and furskins, raw 
Excluding:  
211.91 Parings and other waste of leather or of composition leather, not suita ble for the manufacture of leather 
articles; leather dust, powder and flour 
26 Textile fibres (other than wool tops and other co mbed wool) and their wastes (not manufactured into 
yarn or fabric) 
Excluding:  
264 Jute and other textile bast fibres, n.e.s., raw or pr ocessed but not spun; tow and waste of these fibres 
(including yarn waste and garnetted stock) 
265.4 Sisal and other textile fibres of the genus Agave, ra w or processed but not spun; tow and waste of these 
fibres (including yarn waste and garnetted stock) 
265.5 Abaca (Manila hemp or Musa textilis Née), raw or processed but not spun; tow, noils and waste of 
abaca (including yarn waste and garnetted stock) 
265.7 Coconut fibres (coir); tow, noils and waste of th ese fibres (including yarn waste and garnetted stock) 
265.8 Vegetable textile fibres, n.e.s., ra w or processed but not spun; tow, noils and waste of these fibres 
(including yarn waste and garnetted stock) 
266 Synthetic fibres suitable for spinning 
267 Other man-made fibres suitable for spinning; waste of man-made fibres 
268.62 Garnetted stock of wool or of fine or coarse animal hair 
268.7 Wool and fine or coarse anim al hair, carded or combed (inclu ding combed wool in fragments) 
269 Worn clothing and other worn textile articles; rags 
29 Crude animal and vegeta ble materials, n.e.s. 
Excluding:  
291.97 Natural sponges of animal origin 
512.15 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% or higher 
512.16 Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength 
512.17 Fatty alcohols, industrial 
512.22 Glycerol (glycerine); glycer ol waters and glycerol lyes 
512.24 Mannitol 
512.25 D-glucitol (sorbitol) 
592 Starches, inulin and wheat glut en; albuminoidal substances; glues 
Excluding:  
592.29 Prepared glues and other prepared a dhesives, n.e.s.; products suitable fo r use as glues or adhesives, put 
up for retail sale as glues or adhesive s, not exceeding a net weight of 1 kg 
551.3 Essential oils (terpenele ss or not), including concretes and absolutes; resinoids; concentrates of 
essential oils in fats, in fixed oils, in waxes or the like, obtained by enfleurage or maceration; terpenic 
by-products of the deterpenation of essential oils; aqueous distillates and aqueous solutions of essential 
oils 
 TN/AG/S/19 
Page 26  
 
  
ANNEX II 
 
Non-Agreed Non-Official Definition of Tropical Agricultural Products Used in this Paper
5 
 
 PRODUCT GROUPS AND SUB-GROUPS 4-DIGIT HS96 HEADING  
   
Group I: Tropical beverages  
(a) Unprocessed products 0901, 0902, 1801, 1802 
(b) Semi-processed and processed products 1803, 1804, 1805, 2101 
   
Group II: Spices, flowers and plan ts, planting products, etc.  
(a) Unprocessed products 0602, 0603, 0904-0910, 1211, 
1301, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404 
(b) Semi-processed and processed products 1302, 1521, 3301 
   
Group III: Certain oilseeds, vegetable oils and products thereof  
(a) Unprocessed products and residues from oil extraction 1202, 1203, 1207, 2305, 2306 
(b) Semi-processed and processed products 1208, 1508, 1511, 1513, 1515, 
1516, 1518, 1520 
   
Group IV: Tropical roots, rice and tobacco  
(a) Unprocessed products 0714, 1006, 2401 
(b) Semi-processed and processed products 1106, 1108, 1903, 2402 
   
Group V: Tropical nuts and fruits  
(a) Unprocessed products 0801, 0803, 0804, 0807 
(b) Semi-processed and processed products 2006, 2007, 2008 
   
 
 
                                                      
5 This non-agreed and non-official definition is base d on the indicative list of tropical products used 
during the Uruguay Round and discussed in TN/AG/S/17.  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 27 
 
 
 ANNEX III 
 
Table AIII.1 : Leading Developing Country Exporters of  Tropical Agricultural Products by 
Product Category 
 
 Value of Tropical  Agricultural 
Product Export Share of Total Tropical Agricultural 
Product Exports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars Percentage 
Group I:  Tropical Beverages 
Côte d'Ivoire (a) 2,120 1,600 1, 570 2,000 2,890 76½ 70 70½ 76½ 80½ 
Brazil 2,577 1,892 1,518 1,530 1,769 18½ 14½ 9½ 9 8½ 
Indonesia 973 763 667 1,010 966 22 18 17½ 19 17 
Colombia 1,466 1,179 866 873 901 45½ 40 32 32 31½ 
Ghana (a) 550 450 450 610 850 87½ 83½ 82 84½ 84 
India 743 704 597 547 586 16 14 11½ 9½ 9 
Kenya 470 621 548 177 579 45 61 52½ 31½ 45 
China 403 391 392 383 440 4 3½ 3½ 3 3 
Mexico 699 748 309 259 286 10 9½ 4 3½ 3½ 
Sri Lanka 620 ... 689 659 ... 69½ ... 76 72 ... 
Group II:  Spices, Flowers and Plants etc 
China 530 542 589 645 692 5 4½ 5 58 4½ 
Colombia 558 589 617 679 690 17½ 20 23 24½ 24½ 
India 733 685 594 623 668 15½ 13½ 11½ 11 10 
Indonesia 379 424 299 308 310 8½ 10 8 6 5½ 
Ecuador 184 159 234 297 302 11½ 12 15½ 17 15 
Brazil 197 221 243 267 296 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 
Singapore 467 430 306 294 259 15½ 15 12 10½ 10 
Israel 73 215 191 195 208 6 18½ 17½ 12½ 11½ 
Mexico 181 192 193 202 204 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 
Hong Kong , China (b) 256 274 206 203 162 6½ 6½ 5½ 5½ 4½ 
Group III:  Certain Oilseeds, Vegeta ble Oils and Products thereof 
Malaysia 4,953 3,589 3,422 4,914 6,642 73 65½ 64½ 70 74 
Indonesia 1,937 1,899 1,535 2, 764 3,137 43½ 45 41 51½ 55½ 
India 464 482 425 345 607 10 9½ 8½ 6 9 
Philippines ... 511 484 416 587 ... 33½ 31½ 272 31½ 
Israel 4 16 17 526 579 ½ 1½ 1½ 33½ 32 
China 408 493 497 474 569 4 4 4 3½ 3½ 
Argentina 405 402 337 303 272 3½ 3½ 3 2½ 2 
Singapore 234 194 171 202 229 7½ 7 6½ 7½ 8½ 
Papua New Guinea ... ... ... 118 160 ... ... ... 46 44 
Thailand 83 74 102 ... 158 1½ 1 1½ ... 2 TN/AG/S/19 
Page 28  
 
 Table AIII.1 (cont'd)  
 
Note :  (a) Secretariat estimates. 
  (b) Data includes Hong Kong China's re-exports.  
Source
:  United Nations Comtrade Database and WTO Secretariat. Value of Tropical Agricultural Product 
Exports Share of Total Tropical Agricultural 
Product Exports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003  
Million dollars Percentage 
Group IV:  Tropical Roots, Rice and Tobacco 
Thailand 2,457 2,053 2,059 ... 2,350 39 33½ 31½ ... 29 
India 913 832 829 1,409 1,114 19½ 16½ 16½ 25 17 
Brazil 916 836 940 1,008 1,088 6½ 6½ 6 6 5 
China 955 941 803 903 1,080 9 8 6½ 6½ 7 
Hong Kong , China (b) 685 607 559 595 606 17 15 15 16½ 17 
Turkey 511 496 453 396 427 12 13½ 11 10½ 8½ 
Pakistan (a)  460 400 480 280 370 46½ 43½ 43 37 40½ 
Singapore 12 676 625 546 354 ½ 23½ 24 20 13½ 
Oman ... 135 388 374 213 ... 38½ 62 60 44 
Zimbabwe ... 598 589 207 ... ... 53 73½ 26½ ... 
Group V:  Tropical Nuts and Fruits 
Ecuador 1,000 871 907 1,036 1,188 62½ 65 59 59 59½ 
Costa Rica 925 815 793 768 898 50½ 48 50½ 48½ 50 
China 429 525 597 657 847 4 4½ 5 5 5½ 
Philippines ... 569 574 620 673 ... 37 37½ 40½ 36 
Mexico 502 485 492 441 639 7 6½ 6½ 5½ 7½ 
Thailand 495 386 414 ... 571 8 6½ 6½ ... 7 
India 632 508 427 461 475 13½ 10 8½ 8 7 
Colombia 565 487 420 456 437 17½ 16½ 15½ 16½ 15½ 
Brazil 281 319 281 289 382 2 2½ 2 2 2 
Turkey 338 308 337 325 395 8 8½ 8 8½ 8 
Total Tropical Agricultural Product Exports 
Malaysia 5,384 4,137 3,953 5,506 7,339      
Indonesia 3,625 3,475 2,948 4,536 4,814      
China 2,725 2,892 2,878 3,063 3,627      
Brazil 4,021 3,328 3,039 3,142 3,606      
India 3,486 3,212 2,871 3,385 3,451      
Côte d'Ivoire (a) 2,470 1,970 1,980 2,510 3,360      
Thailand 3,210 2,705 2,749 ... 3,283      
Colombia 2,688 2,346 1,991 2,114 2,171      
Ecuador 1,421 1,175 1,326 1,552 1,781      
Singapore 1,011 1,604 1,364 1,372 1,195       TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 29 
 
 
  
Table AIII.2 : Leading Importers of Tropical Agricu ltural Products by Product Category 
 
Value of Tropical  Agricultural 
Product Imports Tropical Agricultural Products Share of 
Total Agricultural Imports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
 Million dollars Percentage 
Group I:  Tropical Beverages 
EC(15) 10,037 8,453 7,453 8,188 10,454 5 5 4 4 4½ 
United States 4,223 3,867 2, 872 3,021 3,776 9½ 8½ 6 6 7 
Japan 1,335 1,278 1,048 1, 041 1,149 3½ 3½ 3 3 3 
Canada 764 700 651 679 819 7 6 5½ 5 5½ 
Russian Federation 530 508 580 702 795 6½ 7 6½ 7 7 
Poland 426 353 313 346 456 13 11 9½ 9½ 11½ 
Malaysia 111 132 146 199 342 3 3½ 4 5 8½ 
Switzerland 335 280 258 266 339 6½ 5½ 5½ 5 5½ 
Australia 299 261 219 269 322 10 8½ 8 8½ 8 
Saudi Arabia 156 201 176 178 192 3 3½ 4 3½ 3 
Group II:  Spices, Flowers and Plants, etc.  
EC(15) 7,585 7,362 7,560 8,408 9,789 4 4 4 4 4 
United States 2,566 2,634 2, 595 2,580 2,934 6 6 5½ 5 5½ 
Japan 880 929 913 893 973 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 
Switzerland 434 415 408 459 526 8½ 8½ 8½ 8½ 8 
Canada 221 366 370 383 432 2 3 3 3 3 
Hong Kong, China 369 376 335 335 305 4½ 4½ 4 4 4 
Mexico 233 239 264 255 260 2½ 2½ 2½ 2 2 
China 175 220 211 214 249 2½ 2½ 2 2 1½ 
Singapore 317 306 300 246 217 7½ 7½ 7½ 6 5½ 
Korea, Republic of 171 196 189 201 188 2½ 2½ 2½ 2 2 
Group III:  Certain Oilseeds, Vegeta ble Oils and Products thereof  
EC(15) 6,297 5,671 5,611 6,143 7,572 3½ 3½ 3 3 3 
India 1,435 1,072 1,030 1,406 2,061 36½ 37½ 27½ 35 42 
China 838 777 726 1,127 1,881 12 8 7 11 11 
United States 1,169 1,266 1, 036 1,032 1,154 2½ 3 2 2 2 
Japan 512 634 521 555 678 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 2 
Korea, Republic of 413 383 359 409 466 5½ 4½ 4½ 4½ 5 
Mexico 317 353 366 409 453 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 
Turkey 252 273 195 283 376 9½ 8½ 8 9½ 9 
Malaysia 247 180 190 319 356 7 5 5 8 8½ 
Russian Federation 155 165 197 260 327 2 2½ 2 2½ 3 
 TN/AG/S/19 
Page 30  
 
  
Table AIII.2 (cont'd) 
 
Value of Tropical Agricultural Product 
Imports Tropical Agricultural Products Share of 
Total Agricultural Imports 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003  
Million dollars Percentage 
Group IV:  Tropical Roots, Rice and Tobacco  
EC(15) 5,669 8,511 9,275 9,942 11,610 3 5 5 5 5 
Japan 971 3,268 2,844 2,884 2,965 2½ 9 8 8½ 8 
United States 1,590 1,510 1,639 1, 724 1,778 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 
Russian Federation 684 765 746 765 735 8½ 10½ 8½ 8 6½ 
Saudi Arabia 652 808 617 652 731 13½ 15 13 12½ 12½ 
China 211 378 568 545 709 3 4 5½ 5½ 4 
Hong Kong, China 737 729 651 632 629 9 8½ 8 8 8 
Iran 329 352 223 314 521 13 13½ 8½ 15½ 19½ 
Singapore 171 784 770 631 505 4 19½ 19½ 16 12½ 
Indonesia 1,467 478 299 466 434 32½ 11½ 7 11 9½ 
Group V:  Tropical Nuts and Fruits  
EC(15) 7,633 6,898 7,009 7,500 9,414 4 4 4 4 4 
United States 3,671 3,624 3,624 3,798 4,043 8½ 8 8 7½ 7½ 
Japan 1,255 1,299 1,186 1,244 1, 323 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 
Canada 529 533 558 596 692 5 4½ 4½ 4½ 5 
Russian Federation 218 249 259 323 454 3 3½ 3 3½ 4 
India 326 260 145 286 336 8½ 9 4 7 7 
Switzerland 210 196 193 215 259 4 4 4 4 4 
Korea, Republic of 153 168 162 189 234 2 2 2 2 2½ 
Hong Kong, China 262 243 244 237 218 3 3 3 3 2½ 
Poland 197 169 181 189 196 6 5½ 5½ 5½ 5 
Total Tropical Agricultural Product Imports  
EC(15) 37,220 36,896 36,908 40,182 48,838 19½ 21 20½ 20½ 20½ 
United States 13,219 12,901 11,765 12,154 13,684 30 28 25½ 24½ 25½ 
Japan 4,953 7,408 6,512 6,617 7,087 14 20½ 18½ 19½ 19 
China 1,436 1,620 1,693 2,064 3,078 20½ 17 16½ 20 18½ 
India 1,888 1,453 1,340 1,891 2,602 48 50½ 36 47 53 
Russian Federation 1,655 1,778 1, 916 2,202 2,493 21 24½ 22 22½ 22½ 
Canada 1,925 2,038 1,999 2, 093 2,435 17½ 17½ 16 16 16½ 
Switzerland 1,248 1,217 1,130 1, 245 1,447 24 24½ 23 23½ 22½ 
Hong Kong, China 1,577 1,564 1, 507 1,517 1,414 19 18½ 18½ 19 17½ 
Saudi Arabia 1,311 1,492 1, 215 1,198 1,370 27½ 28 26 23 23 
 
Source :  United Nations Comtrade Database.  TN/AG/S/19 
 Page 31 
 
 
  
Technical Notes 
 
Data Sources and Definitions 
 
Data sources 
 
For the purposes of this paper the Secretariat has used  trade data from the United Nations Statistical 
Division Comtrade database, national statistics and Secr etariat estimates.  The data is classified on the 
basis of the Standard International Trade Classifi cation (SITC) Rev.3.  For country groups and 
aggregation methods, see the technical notes in the Secretariat publication, International Trade 
Statistics 2004. 
 
The term "country" or "countries" as used in this  paper includes separate customs territories.  The 
designations used in this paper do not imply an expression of opinion by the Secretariat concerning 
either the status of the country, territory or area, or the delimitation of its frontiers. 
 
The data for agricultural products cover the period from 1990 to 2003.  Due to limited data 
availability, trade flows for tropical agricultura l products only cover the period 1999-2003.  The 
symbol, "..." indicates that there was no data availa ble for that year.  Minor discrepancies between 
constituent figures and totals are due to rounding. 
 
In view of the fact that the period under review ends prior to the accession of the ten new EC member 
States, data covering only the EC(15) has been incorporated into this analysis. 
 
Area definitions 
 This paper uses the following area definitions:  
 
(i) Developed countries
 - North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and New 
Zealand; 
 
(ii) Developing countries   - Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, 
and Asia less 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. World exports exclude intra-EC trade.  World , Developing countries and Asia totals exclude 
re-exports of Hong Kong, China.    
Product definitions 
 As regards a gricultural products , this paper defines agricultural products according to the product 
coverage defined in Annex 1 of  the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 However, in this paper, th e coverage of agricultural pr oducts is defined in terms of the SITC Rev.3.  It 
is derived from the HS96 product cove rage provided in Annex 1 of the Agreement on Agriculture.  To 
minimize discrepancies due to the imperfect corre lation between SITC Rev.3 and HS96, the SITC 
items 598.91 and 598.99 as well as the HS sub-h eadings 3809.10 and 3824.60 are not taken into 
account.  Annex I to this paper provides the Agreem ent on Agriculture coverage in terms of SITC 
Rev.3. TN/AG/S/19 
Page 32  
 
  
With respect to "tropical agricultural products" , as noted there is no agreed definition of what 
constitutes a tropical agricultural product.  For th e purpose of this paper a non-agreed non-official 
definition is used as a proxy for tropical agricultu ral products.  This definition is based on the HS96 
classification of the indicative list of tropical agri cultural products used during the Uruguay Round, as 
set out in Annex 4 of TN/AG/S/17.  The products in cluded in the definition for this paper are set out 
in Annex II.  Because the coverage of tropical agricultural pr oducts is based on the 1996,  4-digit, Harmonised 
System of Tariff Classification, as opposed to the SITC Rev.3 for agricultural products, the data for 
the tropical agricultural products listed in Section IV and Annex III is not compatible with the data for 
a tropical agricultural product that may be listed elsewhere in the paper.  
__________