UNCTAD / Handbook of Statistics 2023
December 2023
96 p.
UNCTAD released on 14 December its Handbook of Statistics 2023 – the global reference for trade and development trends published each year.
It provides official statistics on how the global economy has evolved across regions, countries and sectors. An online version allows people to interact with the data, charts and graphs.
By using “nowcasts”, the handbook provides data-driven real-time estimates of current developments. These can assist governments in anticipating shifts in trade and the economy before final official statistics are available.
“Timely and quality data are critical now more than ever in an era of multiple global crises,” says Anu Peltola, head of UNCTAD Statistics. “These statistics will help countries take evidence-based decisions to tackle today’s challenges rather than yesterday’s.”
Below are some of the key trends for 2022 and 2023 highlighted in the report.
International trade dynamics
- Trade in goods falls: Following a strong recovery from COVID-19 in 2021, goods exports increased by 11.4% in 2022, reaching $29 trillion. But statistics show a 4.6% decrease in merchandise trade in the first half of 2023, and UNCTAD nowcasts a continued year-on-year decline for the third and fourth quarters.
- Trade in services continues to rise: Trade in services rebounded by 14.8% in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Services trade grew more in developing countries, which in 2022 reached their highest global market share to date at 30%. Globally, UNCTAD nowcasts around 7% growth for trade in services in 2023.
- Global trade imbalances increase: Developed economies recorded a growing merchandise trade deficit, reaching $1.6 trillion in 2022.
- Commodity exports increase: All major commodity groups saw significant trade increases in 2022. Fuel exports grew by nearly 62% due to higher prices. Food exports grew by 10%.
