World exports of intermediate goods (IG), such as parts and components, rose by 47 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021, according to a new WTO quarterly report released to help track the health of global supply chains. The increase sustains the upward trend in IG exports recorded in the first quarter (20 percent), during which IG trade from most top exporters largely exceeded 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Africa recorded the highest growth in exports of IGs in the second quarter (88 percent), mainly due to strong jumps in exports of precious metals and stones such as rhodium, diamonds, copper/copper cathodes and iron ore concentrates. South and Central America recorded a 53 percent increase, also related to a strong rise in exports of primary commodities such as iron and copper ores. - WTO