What the WTO’s goods trade forecasts measure
The outlook separates the volume of merchandise traded from the value of sales.
The World Trade Organization's outlook tracks merchandise trade volume and publishes projections for how it could change. The volume measure adjusts for price movements to give an estimate of the underlying amount of goods traded.
Trade values can move in a different direction. If commodity prices rise, the amount paid for shipments can increase even if the physical volume changes little. The WTO's reports provide a way to examine those movements alongside trends in commercial services and different regions.