Environnement et commerce associé

Data insights

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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

In Small Island Developing States, services account for 90% of ocean exports

Ocean exports by development status, billions of dollars, 2025

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Trade in goods is measured as cross-border international merchandise trade. Certain transactions may therefore be included in both goods and services trade.

See metadata.

In 2025, developed economies exported ocean-related goods and services worth around $1,2 trillion total (abstracting from certain transactions that may be counted in both domains), compared to $1,1 trillion for developing economies. Ocean related exports worth around $197 billion came from Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

SIDS’ ocean exports are dominated by services (90%) – more than the exports of developing economies on average and of developed economies. While Singapore mostly exports maritime passenger and freight services, other SIDS rely heavily on tourism.

Data updated on 8 juin 2026

Small Island Developing States' ocean exports per capita are nearly 10 times higher than the global average

Ocean exports value, dollars per capita, 2023

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

See metadata.

SIDS’ ocean exports per capita were $2,641 in 2023, nearly ten times the world average, pointing to the economic importance of this export sector.

Read more about UNCTAD's work to help SIDS through the Blue Biotrade in the Caribbean and Ocean Economy and Trade Strategies in Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica.

Data updated on 17 fév 2025

Metadonnées

The trade in ocean goods and services databases draw on UN Comtrade data following the development of a UNCTAD ocean trade classification. As HS codes do not distinguish between land-based and ocean-based activities, coefficients were developed when necessary, to isolate the share of ocean-based activities, based on extensive desk research on countries and sectors. The ocean trade classification is available to download here: Towards a harmonized international trade classification for the development of sustainable ocean-based economies | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Metadata are available on our Data Centre (Ocean trade - Methodological note) and for each ocean trade table.

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