World merchandise exports grew by 2%, while services trade recorded 5% increase in 2013.
In real terms, quarterly figures show that world merchandise exports
and imports volume increased by 3.6% and 2.8%, respectively, in the
fourth quarter of 2013, compared with the corresponding period of the
year before. Developing economies registered the fastest exports growth
among the major groups (4.2%), followed by developed region (3.2%).
On a seasonally adjusted basis, world exports volume decreased by
1.1% from the previous quarter. According to this indicator, developed
countries maintained the same level of exports during the fourth quarter
of 2013 - compared to the quarter before - while developing and
transition economies exported less in volume terms.
Services are
increasingly being traded internationally, reaching 4.7 trillion dollars
of global exports in 2013 and recording a 5% annual growth (current
prices). The most dynamic services sectors between 2008 and 2013 were
computer and information services (9.1 % annual average growth),
followed by personal, cultural and recreational services (8.9 %), then
by other business and professional services (6.8 %). It is in computer
and information services sector that developing economies record highest
growth rates: 13 % on average annually since 2008, compared with 7.5 %
for developed countries. Other fast growing services sector for
developing nations are financial and insurance services, with average
yearly rise of almost 11%. LDCs record highest increase in computer and
information services, insurance service and construction: some 30% on
average annually since 2008. However, these sectors together represented
just 7% of LDCs' total services exports in 2013. In LDCs, as in a
majority of regions, travel and transport account for a large part of
services exports (some 60% in LDCs, 54% in developing regions, and about
40% in the developed world).
