23.07.2010 21:01:41
Biggest players in trade in natural resources (Reuters, July 23, 2010)

World trade in natural resources -- fuels, forestry, mining and fisheries -- amounted to $3.7 trillion in 2008, or nearly 24 percent of total trade in merchandise goods, the World Trade Organization said on Friday.

The WTO's latest World Trade Report includes the following data on the main players in the sector.

* Non-WTO member Russia was the biggest exporter of natural resources in 2008, with a value of $341 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia, with $282 billion and Canada with $178 billion.

* The United States was the biggest importer, with a value of $583 billion, followed by Japan with $350 billion and China with $330 billion.

* China's imports of natural resources grew 43 percent in 2008. India, the seventh biggest importer with $135 billion, saw the value of its imports rise 52.5 percent.

* Russia was the biggest exporter of fuels and the United States is the biggest importer. Australia was the biggest exporter of mining products and China the biggest importer.

* China's biggest suppliers of natural resources are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Russia and Brazil.