WTO projects worse world trade behavior
The latest figures on export orders, air cargo transportation and other economic indicators suggest that the contraction of world trade will continue in the third quarter of the year
In a scenario marked by the trade war between the United States and China, now extended to the financial sphere by the currency conflict between the two nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published its Barometer of Merchandise Trade and placed it at 95.7 points, the worst figure since March 2010.
The data indicate an expected contraction in exchanges when it is below 100 points and an expansion when it exceeds that mark, something that has not happened for a year.
The six sub-indicators with which the barometer is calculated also showed a decline, among which air freight traffic (91.4 points) and the evolution of the electronics sector (90.7) stand out as especially low.
Only maritime goods were close to 100 points in the indicator, they reached 99, while the export order index reached 97.5 points, the production and sale of automobiles 93.5 and the raw materials and Agricultural 97.1.
“The reading of the last barometer suggests that merchandise trade will remain weak in the second and third quarters,” the WTO said in a statement.
L. Sáenz
Source: Banca & Negocios
