Merchandise trade and trade in commercial services

World merchandise exports fell by 3 per cent in 2016 in value terms. This decrease was mostly caused by the continuing decline in exports of fuels and mining products (-14 per cent in 2016). The marked decline in commodity prices in 2015 mostly halted in 2016, with the exception of energy prices. The export prices of all other major commodity groups, apart from food and beverages, decreased slightly but the decline was less than in 2015.