The total value of exports shipped by 15 large exporters in February was nearly a third lower than in the same month of 2008 — a rate of fall much faster than anything seen in recent recessions.
France, a leading trading nation, has grown into one of the world's foremost exporting countries, with the value of exports representing more than one-fifth of GDP.
The value of exports, on the other hand, includes the cost of these imported materials.
By 1997 sugar accounted for less than half of the value of exports.
LNG, crude petroleum, and refined petroleum account for the bulk of the value of exports.
Gold and copper made up some two-thirds of the value of exports.
The value of exports fell by 5.8% but imports slumped by 12%.
While exports missed estimates at +4.3% (versus +5% expected), the value of exports was the highest ever recorded.
Since Nafta took effect in 1996, the value of exports to the US has jumped sixfold to $320bn last year.
The value of exports increased 36percentto to $222.6 billion, while imports grew 28percentto to $108.8 billion.
But the value of exports from oil-producing countries, like Russia and Saudi Arabia, has fallen even more.
