Chapter II

Trends in
world trade:
Looking back
over the past
ten years
World merchandise trade and trade in commercial services, 2005-2015 10

Wo r l d me rcha ndi s e trade growth in value terms, 2 00 5- 2 0 1 5 11

Me rcha ndi s e tra de of W TO memb ers by region, 2 00 5- 2 0 1 5 12

Merchandise exports of developing economies, 2 00 5 and 2 0 15 13

Economi es by size of merchandise trade, 2 0 1 5 14

E conomi e s by s i z e of trade in commercial services, 2 0 1 5 15

 World Trade Statistical Review 2016

World merchandise trade and

trade in commercial services, 2005-2015
The value of merchandise The value of merchandise trade
trade and trade in commercial and trade in commercial services
services in 2015 is nearly declined in 2015 following modest
twice as high as in 2005. growth in 2012 to 2014.

World merchandise trade and trade in commercial services, 2005-2015

20,000

19,000

18,000

17,000

16,000

15,000

14,000

13,000
,

12,000

11,000

10,000

9,000

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000
Billion US dollar

3,000

2,000

1,000

2005
20
005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Merchandise trade Trade in commercial services

10
 Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

World merchandise trade growth

in value terms, 2005-2015
A decline in world commodity prices
had a significant impact on the value
of global merchandise trade in 2015.
45%
World energy prices
dropped by 45% in 2015.

Growth of world merchandise trade, 2005-2015

20

Exports Imports
15

10

-5
5
hange
Annual percentage change

-10

-15

-20
2005 2006 2007 8
2008 2009 20
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

The ratio of merchandise trade to GDP fell sharply in 2009

following the economic crisis but bounced back quickly in 2010-2011.
In 2012-2014 it declined gradually, before falling significantly in 2015.

Ratio of world merchandise trade to GDP, 2005-2015

27%

24%

21%

18%
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Note: Merchandise trade to GDP ratio is estimated as merchandise trade (average of exports and imports
values) divided by GDP, measured in nominal dollar terms at market exchange rates.

11
 World Trade Statistical Review 2016

Merchandise trade of WTO

members by region, 2005-2015
Asia, Europe and North The share of developing
America have accounted for 88% economies in merchandise
in total merchandise trade of WTO exports increased from
members over the past ten years. 33% in 2005 to 42% in 2015.

Merchandise trade of WTO members by region, 2005-2015

(percentage share, %)

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

North America South America Europe Commonwealth of Independent States Africa Middle East Asia

12
 Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

Merchandise exports of developing

economies, 2005 and 2015
Merchandise trade between
developing economies has increased
from 41% to 52% of their global trade
in the last ten years.

55%

To developed economies
1%
To developing economies
3%
2005 To Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Not elsewhere specified

41%

43%

To developed economies
2%
To developing economies
3% 2015
To Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Not elsewhere specified

52%

13
 World Trade Statistical Review 2016

Economies by size
of merchandise trade, 2015

Billion
US Dollars

0 - 125

125 - 250

250 - 500

> 500

US$16.2 tn
52% 42% Merchandise
exports of WTO
members totalled
The top ten Developing US$ 16.2 trillion
merchandise economies in 2015.
traders accounted had a 42%
for 52% of the share in world
world’s total merchandise
trade in 2015. trade in 2015.

Note: Merchandise trade is calculated as an average of exports and imports and including significant re-exports or imports for re-export.

14
 Trends in world trade: Looking back over the past ten years

Economies by size of trade

in commercial services, 2015

Billion
US Dollars

0 - 10

10 - 25

25 - 50

> 50

US$ 4.68 tn
53% 36% Exports
of commercial
services by WTO
The top ten traders Developing members totalled
in commercial economies US$ 4.68 trillion
services accounted accounted for in 2015.
for 53% of the 36% of total trade
world’s total in commercial
trade in 2015. services in 2015.

15