Statistical Bulletin Latin America - Asia Pacific Number 12 (Second half 2017)

Abstract

Despite a slower rate of growth during the second half of the year, the value of merchandise exports from Latin America to Asia-Pacific increased 25.2% in 2017. This represents a strong recovery after the stagnation of the value of shipments in 2016, which in turn followed a sharp drop in 2015 (-19.6%). In fact, the rate of expansion of shipments to Asia-Pacific in 2017 was almost double the rate of region’s growth in total exports (12.9%). Shipments to China grew fastest among all Asian markets. The value of regional imports of goods from Asia-Pacific grew 9% in 2017, an expansion similar to that of the region's total imports (8.8%). This marks a sharp break with respect to 2016, when purchases from the Asia-Pacific region contracted 8.4%. Purchases from the Rest of Asia grouping grew the most in 2017 (14.7%), while those from the Republic of Korea fell slightly.