Asia Represents Leading Region in ICT Exports

A report from the U.N. issued Wednesday highlights Asia as a strong market for technology. According to an Associated Press (News - Alert) report, the region is now exporting two-thirds of mobile phones, personal computers, digital televisions and other high-tech goods for information and communications used throughout the world. This number represents a significant shift in world trade accentuated by the global financial crisis.

This data from the U.N. shows that China and Hong Kong exported $498 billion in such technology goods in 2009, which was more than four times the United States’ share of $113 billion.

Global exports of ICT – information and communications technology – is key for developing economies and represents 12 percent of world merchandise traded last year. This number is a 1 percent increase from 2009, according to figures from the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development.

"The striking thing is that Asia really has emerged as a very dominant player," said Torbjorn Fredriksson in the Associated Press report. Fredriksson heads the ICT analysis section at the U.N. trade organization known as UNCTAD. "And you can also see that within just one year, their share increased by 2.5 percent, which is quite a large share globally, and we link (that) to the financial crisis."

While Asia is dominating the technology goods sector, the U.S. comes in second as it exports nearly 11 percent of all ICT goods. China, Hong Kong and the U.S. are also the biggest importers of ICT goods, which is a partial reflection of the inter-Asian trade in components.

The UNCTAD noted that this latest data supports recent findings that the global financial crisis has led to significant shifts in world trade of ICT goods towards Asia.

Most of the major exports actually saw a decrease in ICT goods as a result of the financial crisis, but the decline was more significant in Portugal and Finland where the drop exceeded 50 percent. Ireland experienced a 36 percent drop and the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Sweden all experienced a 20 percent decline. Notched modest losses were also reported by China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Korea and Thailand.

By contrast, India enjoyed soaring exports at 244 percent, and the imports of ICT goods also increased. Sharp (News - Alert) rises were also experienced by Romania, Israel and Malaysia.

ICT goods imports declined by more than 35 percent in countries such as Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Russia and Spain, due to the financial crisis and other factors. Mobile phones and other ICT goods are expected to create new opportunities.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications & technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2011, taking place Feb 2-4, 2011, in Miami. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.