International trade

Data insights

International trade is the backbone of the global economy, facilitating the exchange of goods, services and ideas across borders. It fosters economic growth, enhances productivity and drives innovation. This collection of thematic insights delves into key aspects of international trade, offering a deeper understanding of its diverse components.

Intra-GSTP trade accounts for almost one quarter of the participating countries' exports

Share of exports to countries participating in the Global System of Trade Preferences, percentage, 2025

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Intra-MERCOSUR trade is not counted in intra-GSTP trade. The value for MERCOSUR reflects the extra-MERCOSUR exports of its members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay).

See metadata.

Merchandise trade among members of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP), the only inter-regional South-South trade agreement, accounted for 23% of their exports in 2025. Benin delivered 53% of its exports to other GSTP member countries.

Data updated on 15 Jul 2026

São Paulo Round signatories' intra-trade still below 10% of their exports, showing scope for expansion

Share of exports to other São Paulo Round signatories, percentage, 2025

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Intra-MERCOSUR trade is not counted in intra-GSTP trade. The value for MERCOSUR reflects the extra-MERCOSUR exports of its members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay).

See metadata.

The latest round of GSTP negotiations culminated in the São Paulo Round Protocol, signed by eight members. Their intra-group trade accounted for 9% of their exports in 2025. GSTP São Paulo Round signatories were destinations of around one sixth (16%) of Indonesia’s exports.

Data updated on 15 Jul 2026

Metadata

The Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) among Developing Countries, negotiated within UNCTAD’s framework and signed on 13 April 1988, is aimed at increasing South-South trade primarily through preferential tariff reductions. A second round of negotiations opened in Tehran in 1992 and concluded six years later. A third round of negotiations, also known as the São Paulo Round, was launched during UNCTAD’s eleventh session (UNCTAD XI) in Brazil. After six years of negotiations, the third round of negotiations concluded in December 2010 in Brazil, culminating in the adoption of the São Paulo Round Protocol. 

The data presented are primarily sourced from UN Comtrade, which provides detailed bilateral trade statistics by trading partner and product. The data have been processed using the same methodology as the Trade Matrix, ensuring consistency in the treatment, aggregation, and presentation of trade flows.

Members in each group (GSTP participants, GSTP São Paulo Round signatories, GSTP São Paulo Round ratifying participants) are updated as of 15 July 2026. 

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for GSTP: Merchandise trade matrix - Annual (analytical).

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