Economics
Study Notes
Globalisation - Intra Regional Trade
- Level:
- A Level
- Board:
- AQA, Edexcel, OCR, IB
Last updated 22 Mar 2021
Intra-regional trade happens when trade in goods and services happens inside a specific region of the world economy such as sub-Saharan Africa or the member nations of the European Union

Low intra-regional trade in Africa
Over 80% of Africa's exports are shipped overseas, mainly to the European Union (EU), China and the US (Source: UN Report)
Africa's intra-regional trade share doubled from 6% to 12% between 1990 and 2011
But this is small compared to more advanced regions
Why is this?
- Many African countries are highly specialized in and dependent on extracting and exporting primary commodities
- Limited infrastructure like roads, energy and physical networks to support international trade – increasing the costs of getting products to market.
- Overlapping trade blocs in Africa
- Few significant import hub countries
- Smaller size of consumer markets in Africa – therefore less profit incentive
- Weaker governance, fraud, many non-tariff barriers to trade such as cross border restrictions that delay trade flows

The rise of intra-Asian regional trade
There has been a surge in intra-regional trade within Asian countries
The share has grown from 42 per cent in 1990 to 52 per cent in 2011 – now a majority of trade
Most of the change is due to a fall in the share of North America in total Asian trade
Many Asian countries have achieved fast progress towards a highly diversified industrial base.
Increasing capacities and competencies in producing many different goods and services has accelerated intra-industry trade e.g. as countries supply different components.
Asia is building complex and large supply chains and trading more within the region as a result
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