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UNCTAD/PRESS/MA/2021/MA/019 Global Trade Update November 2021
World trade reaches record high
Geneva, Switzerland, 30 November 2021
Please find attached the latest issue of the UNCTAD Global Trade Update. Its key findings show that:
- Global trade is expected to reach about $28 trillion in 2021, indicating an increase of 11% relative to pre-pandemic levels.
- Global trade growth stabilized during the second half of 2021, increasing by about 1% quarter-over-quarter. The outlook for 2022 remains very uncertain.
- Trade in goods reached record levels in Q3 2021. Trade in services shows increasing momentum but remains below pre-pandemic levels.
- Trade growth remains uneven across countries and sectors, but it has been broader in Q3 2021 than in previous quarters.
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UNCTAD is the UN trade and development body. It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively and equips them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration.
It provides analysis, facilitates consensus-building and offers technical assistance to help developing countries use trade, investment, finance and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.
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