World commercial services exports swung into decline in the third quarter of 2012

According to preliminary estimates by the WTO and UNCTAD, in the third quarter of 2012, world exports of commercial services shrank by 2 %, as compared with the same quarter last year. Preliminary figures (balance-of-payments basis, current prices) indicate the sharp drop in services exports in Europe (-7%), while the services trade growth also slowed, but remained positive in North America (2%) and Asia and Oceania (4%).

Detailed data available at:

• UNCTAD (database format)

• WTO (excel format with overview of developments)

Source: UNCTAD / WTO

World trade estimates are aggregated from individual reporters' quarterly balance-of-payments statistics taken from the IMF and Eurostat, supplemented with estimates for missing data, as well as national sources.

Quarterly figures may not add up to annual figures published elsewhere in WTO or UNCTAD statistical publications or online databases.

Quarterly data are released every three months.

Contact:

• UNCTAD: statistics@unctad.org
• WTO: statistics@wto.org