Unequal distribution of production among countries

In 1977, per capita gross domestic product expressed in USA dollars was $550 for Africa, $770 for Asia (East and Southeast), $1,310 for Latin America, $2,100 for Asia (Middle East), $5,470 for Oceania, $5,750 for Europe, and $8,660 for North America.

Many of the commodities for which there is a rapid growth of world demand are commodities in the production of which developed countries enjoy climatic or resource advantages (such as some temperate zone foodstuffs: meat, fish, grains, cheese, wine), while most of the commodities produced solely in developing countries (notably tea, coffee, bananas, natural rubber, and hard fibres) have experienced comparatively slow rates of growth of demand.