Why do world exports and imports not match?

Exports are usually valued free on board (FOB), at the border of the exporting country; imports include the cost of transport and insurance (CIF). Goods shipped at the end of a year can be counted as exports in one year and imports in the next.

Some trade is re-exported: a country that imports goods and sends them on is counted as both importer and exporter, even if it grows none of the product itself.

For some products FAO’s trade item is narrower than the production item, for example fresh or chilled meat only. Husfarm shows the exact trade item name where this is the case.