Environnement et commerce associé

Data insights

Cette page est seulement disponible en Anglais. 

The intersection of international trade and environmental sustainability has become increasingly important in shaping global economic policies. The trade of goods that impact natural ecosystems plays a crucial role in either preserving or degrading our planet’s resources. This collection of thematic insights explores key areas where trade and the environment intersect, shedding light on the dynamics of environmentally related trade

More than half (57%) of the US$3.8 trillion global biodiversity-based exports are in food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals

Structure of exports of biodiversity-based products by product category, billions of dollars and percentage, 2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

See metadata.

In 2024, the exports of biodiversity-based products accounted for 17% of total trade.

Food and beverage products led these exports at $1.46 trillion, followed by pharmaceuticals ($695 billion) and wood and derived products ($403 billion).

Natural fibres ($348 billion) and natural ingredients ($314 billion) also accounted for significant shares, while other products contributed smaller amounts.

Data updated on 20 Juil 2026

Least Developed Countries rely far more on biodiversity-based exports than other country groups

Exports of biodiversity-based goods as a share of total exports, 2015-2024 average

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

See metadata.

Between 2015 and 2024, biodiversity-based goods accounted on average for 32% of Least Developed Countries’ (LDCs) total merchandise exports, nearly double the world average of 17% and more than twice the share recorded by developing economies (15%).

Least developed countries (LDCs) are far more dependent on biodiversity-based exports for their export earnings than any other country group.

This dependence can be both a comparative advantage, if traded sustainably through resilient value chains, and a structural vulnerability made more acute by climate change and extreme weather events.

Data updated on 20 Juil 2026

Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics account for a significantly larger share of biodiversity-based exports in developed economies (31%) than in developing economies (8%)

Structure of exports of biodiversity-based products by economic group, percentage, 2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

See metadata.

Pharmaceuticals and perfumery, cosmetics and personal care products are high-value biodiversity-based exports. 

In 2024, they accounted for 31% of biodiversity-based exports from developed economies, compared with 8% in developing economies and 0.5% in LDCs.

Expanding participation in higher-value biodiversity-based products could help developing economies and LDCs capture a greater share of value from their biodiversity resources.
 

Data updated on 20 Juil 2026

The growth of global exports in biodiversity-based products is volatile

Annual growth rate of global exports of biodiversity-based products

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

For economies which had no reported 2024 data at the time of writing, 2023 values were used as estimates.

See metadata.

In 2024, the estimated growth of global exports in biodiversity-based products reached 3.1%. This follows a strong post COVID-19 pandemic growth in 2021 (+17.9%), moderate gains in 2022 (+4.9%), and a slight decline in 2023 (–2.0%, albeit not all countries have reported data yet).

Since 2010, growth rates for global exports in biodiversity-based products fluctuated considerably, recording several years of low or negative growth.

By providing data at country and global levels, UNCTAD informs the monitoring framework of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), particularly with the complementary indicator 5CY.8: Growth rate of trade in biodiversity-based goods and services.

Data updated on 20 Juil 2026

Metadonnées

Biodiversity-based products include all products of biological origin, including plant and animal species found on land, in water and in the air, that: (1) consist primarily of biological resources in a non- or low-processed form; (2) use biodiversity-based materials as their main inputs; or (3) are mainly derived from biodiversity-based products.

These may include goods produced without sustainability certifications or other sustainability considerations. Systematic collection of comparable trade data on certified sustainable goods remains challenging due to the proliferation of voluntary standards, the lack of harmonized trade data, and the confidential nature of some information.

Overcoming these challenges will require significant efforts to improve the availability and comparability of trade data on certified sustainable goods. 

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for Biotrade: Bilateral trade by product - Annual (analytical).

More data insights

Commerce international
Économie, finance
Transport maritime et autre
Économie numérique et tech
Population, inclusivité