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Internet of Things Drives Component Trade Expansion

electronics

Published Mar 12, 2019 6:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

A burgeoning demand for the Internet of Things (IoT) is propelling exponential growth in the trade of electronic components.

Demand for electronic components used in IoT devices drove the value of trade in international imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods to $2.1 trillion in 2017, according to new figures released by UNCTAD. It is the first time that global ICT goods imports have rebounded since 2014, showing six percent annual growth.

Trade in ICT goods grew slightly faster than merchandise trade and represented 13.4 percent of the total in 2017, down from the 16.1 percent high during the dot-com boom in 2000 but the highest in two years. By comparison, in 2017 machinery and transport equipment accounted for 37 percent and food for eight percent of merchandise imports.

Among ICT products, trade in electronic components continued to expand with an annual growth rate of eight percent – just below that of computers and consumer electronics (nine percent).


 
While China is by far the largest exporter of ICT goods, the Republic of Korea boasted the highest growth rate among the top 10 exporters in 2017. Exports also grew significantly for all the other top 10 exporters, except the U.S. The market share of the top 10 exporters was about 86 percent in 2017.

The share of intra-industry trade remains high in this sector, with interdependence between the big Asian, North American and European players, and the top importers typically also feature among the top exporters of ICT goods.

The U.S. was the top importer followed closely by China and Hong Kong. Mexico was the only economy among the top 10 where ICT goods imports did not grow in 2017.

ICT imports to developed economies showed 10 percent annual growth. This growth is significantly more than in developing economies – three percent. In 2017, Eastern Asia accentuated its role as the leading export hub, while Africa, Southern and Western Asia all saw significant declines.

However, at 54 percent market share, developing economies import more than developed economies, because they have a more significant role in assembling ICT goods and so import significantly more electronic components.