Trade in intermediate goods — inputs used to make products — increased between Africa and other regions in the second quarter of last year, according to the World Trade Organization. [Exports of intermediate goods post sustained growth in ... - wto.org]
Global trade flows of such goods grew at a slower pace in 2022 than in the previous year, coming in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The WTO said the value of intermediate goods exported by Africa to other regions was $76 billion in Q2 of 2022, up from $67 billion in the corresponding period of 2021. African exports of industrial inputs to South and Central America grew the most among all inter-regional flows. The exports of inputs, such as urea and ammonium to the fertilizer industry in Brazil, increased 100% year-on-year. WTO also found exports of manufacturing and agricultural inputs from North America and South and Central America to Africa increased by 32% and 37% year-on-year respectively, which it said was mostly due to US shipments of soybeans and wheat.
