Environment and related trade

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.

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.

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.

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.