Merchandise trade growth slowed across major economies in the second quarter of 2011. Total imports of G7 and BRICS countries grew by only 1.1% in the second quarter compared to 10.1% in the previous quarter. Total export growth slowed to 1.9%, compared to 7.7% in the previous quarter.

G7 and BRICS

Merchandise trade in US$ billion (Customs data)
Seasonally adjusted data at current prices and exchange rates



China’s imports grew by 0.7%, compared to 11.1% in the first quarter, the lowest rate since the first quarter of 2009, while exports picked up strongly by 10.0% (compared to 2.9% in the previous quarter), leading to a sharp increase in the trade surplus. .

In the United States, import growth slowed to 3.0% (versus 11.1% in the previous quarter) and export growth dropped to 2.6% (versus 5.6% in the previous quarter).

Compared to the first quarter, both import and export growth rates slowed down in all G7 and BRICS countries, except in Brazil, where imports increased strongly by 11.2% (versus 5.7% in the previous quarter) and in China.