WTO Forecasts World Trade Growth at 3.3% in 2013
The
outlook for economic growth and job creation remains a major concern in most
countries. The global economy has continued to struggle over the review period,
with negative consequences for both global and G-20 trade flows. The most
recent forecast for 2013 shows continuation of 2012 with both world trade and
output to expand slowly and below historical trends and averages. World trade
is forecast to grow by 3.3% in 2013. Although this is higher than the 2% growth
in 2012, it is still below the 20-year average of around 5%.
Chart
1: Growth in volume of world merchandise trade 2008-2013
(annual percentage change)
Note:
Volume of merchandise trade is the average of exports and imports. Figures for
2013 and 2014 are projections.
Source:
WTO Secretariat.
Table
1: World merchandise trade volume, 2009-2014
(annual percentage change)
|
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013a |
2014a |
|
Volume of world merchandise tradeb |
-12.5 |
13.9 |
5.2 |
2 |
3.3 |
5 |
|
Exports |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed economies |
-15.2 |
13.1 |
5.1 |
1 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
|
Developing economiesc |
-7.4 |
-15.4 |
5.5 |
3.3 |
5.3 |
7.5 |
|
Imports |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed economies |
-14.3 |
10.7 |
3.1 |
-0.1 |
1.4 |
3.2 |
|
Developing economiesc |
-10.5 |
18.3 |
8 |
4.6 |
5.9 |
7.4 |
a
Figures for 2013 and 2014 are projections
b
Average of exports and imports
c
Includes the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Source:
WTO Secretariat estimates