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7/29/2010Global Trade

World trade to grow over next two years, IHS says

Global trade moved by all modes of transportation will grow 8.1 percent in 2010 and 6.9 percent in 2011 following a 7.2 percent decline in 2009, according to IHS Global Insight’s World Trade Service report.

International trade volumes are expected to increase at a pace keeping with the global economic recovery, the report states.

This year, containerized trade volumes are forecast to rise nearly 10 percent, with a slightly stronger recovery — 10.6 percent — on the mainline east-west trade lanes, before slowing the next two years.

While trade growth is projected into 2011 and beyond, the pace is expected to be slower than 2010's, according to the report.

World containerized trade measured in 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) is projected to increase 9.2 percent in 2010 and grow 6.8 percent in 2011.