CHEMICAL INDUSTRY NOW ACCOUNTS FOR 10% OF TOTAL
WORLD TRADE: CHEMICAL TRADE DOUBLES IN SIX YEARS
12 August 1997
World trade in chemicals and chemical products amounted to some US$
450 billion in 1995, roughly 10% of total trade in all commodities. This value is
double that of six years earlier, from around US$ 230 in 1989, yielding an
annual average growth rate of 11-12%. The leading 22 importing and
exporting countries represent a very important but slowly decreasing fraction of
that total, as newer competing countries enter chemical trading.
Western Europe accounts for more than half of world1 imports in chemicals
and nearly two thirds of world exports. Chemical trade contributes some US$
30 billion to the western European trade balance, while generating a US$ 46
billion trade deficit in Asia. North America imports half as much as Asia but
exports similar amounts.
| World trade in chemicals and chemical products: percentage controlled by leading 22 countries* |
| |
1989 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
| Imports |
82.9** |
78.7 |
76.7 |
75.6 |
76.0 |
| Exports |
91.2** |
90.8 |
90.3 |
90.0 |
89.3 |
* Excluding (former) USSR/CIS countries.
** Leading 20 countries only (China and the Republic of Korea are not included).
_____________________
1 Excluding Commonwealth of Independent States.
These and numerous other conclusions can be drawn from the latest edition
of the Annual Bulletin of Trade in Chemical Products, published by the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The aim of the Bulletin is to make the world chemical market possibilities transparent for traders,
producers and investors. The 470-page publication gives detailed 1995 import and
export trade data for 85 chemicals and chemical products in value terms and 22
in tonnages. The data are based on statistics reported to UN/ECE by the leading
22 producing and consuming countries trading with 60 partner countries
worldwide. Since the Bulletin is published annually, time series can be derived for
any product or group of products by reference to earlier editions.
The Bulletin is available, quoting Sales No. E/F/R.97.II.E.12, through the usual
United Nations sales agents in various countries or from the United Nations Office
at Geneva, priced at US$ 47. Further information about the Bulletin can be
obtained from: