Commodity prices will hit poor

SHARP falls in commodity prices are expected to cut some developing countrys export earnings by as much as a quarter this year, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

Unctads annual Trade and Development report blames the falls on the economic crisis in Asia, formerly the fastest growing market for agricultural and other primary commodities from Latin America and Africa.

But the report sees some recovery in commodities demand in the future. It argues the troubled Asian countries will have met their current demand out of existing stockpiles, but these are nearing exhaustion.

• Financial Times 17/09/98 page 3