|
Electronics, chemicals and textiles are the most dynamic sectors in world trade and hold significant promise for developing countries, a new report from UNCTAD reveals.
The study ranks the most market dynamic product categories in world trade on the basis of long-term trends in market share and export value growth. Developed countries continue to be the major players, but some developing countries, particularly those in East Asia, have made successful bids to entering the dynamic sectors. For example, the share of developing countries in the world exports of the top two market dynamic product categories, namely radiographic and radiophonic transmitters and computer storage units, increased from near zero in 1985 to 22 per cent in 2002. However, only in under garments, ranked sixth by the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) study, developing countries have outpaced the share of developed countries.
The experience of successful developing countries indicate that dynamic and new sectors of world trade can provide opportunities for developing countries to accelerate growth, increase domestic value added of exports, increase productivity and competitiveness, and enhance employment and quality of jobs, thereby contributing to the achievement of the objectives and goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
However Africa and the least developed countries (LDCs) are struggling to keep up.
UNCTAD at a meeting held on 7-9 February 2005 in Geneva launched a process of regular policy dialogue on developing countries' export performance in dynamic and new sectors of world trade. It took up three sectors, namely outsourcing of IT-enabled services, renewable energy products including bio-fuels, and textiles and clothing. Key issues covered including opportunities offered by the dynamic and new sectors to developing countries in ensuring development gains from international trade and key determinants of their participation in these sectors.
Ranking of dynamic products in world trade in terms of growth in market share and world export value
Rank
SITC 2
code
Product
Market share increment (%)
Value of world exports (current $US millions)
Average annual growth rate of world exports
Developing country share of world exports (%)
1985-2002
1985
2002
(%)
1985
2002
1
7643
radiotelegraphic & radiotelephonic transmitters
1.21
2,365
75,859
23
1
22
2
7524
computer storage units
0.67
136
37,568
39
0
22
3
7764
electronic microcircuits
2.26
10,213
163,336
18
15
15
4
5417
medicaments
1.61
9,101
123,459
17
5
4
5
7528
off-line computers
0.29
587
18,363
22
1
28
6
8462
under garments
0.30
1,689
23,015
17
19
57
7
5148
nitrogen-function compounds
0.29
2,261
24,603
15
4
6
8
5416
glycosides; glands & organs
0.21
1,105
15,842
17
2
4
9
7924
aircraft
0.63
6,247
58,061
14
1
2
10
8743
non-electrical instruments for measuring, checking flow
0.21
1,268
16,554
16
1
17
11
6552
knitted/crocheted fabrics
0.19
820
13,376
18
8
22
12
5839
polymerization and copolimerization products
0.29
2,611
25,698
14
2
7
13
8710
optical instruments and apparatus
0.21
1,632
17,488
15
0
12
14
5530
perfumery, cosmetics and toiletries
0.29
2,976
26,847
14
5
11
15
8211
chairs, seats and parts
0.27
2,807
25,136
14
2
39
16
7712
electric power machinery
0.22
2,249
20,258
14
2
32
17
8931
packing materials
0.19
2,036
18,340
14
3
24
18
7144
reaction engines
0.16
1,815
15,464
13
0
5
Source: United Nations COMTRADE Database
Note: Average annual growth rates are computed using current values of exports. Lower average annual growth rates would be obtained if constant values were used although the ranking would remain unchanged.
SB/MRS
|
