Data Hub
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Environment and related trade

Data insights

The intersection of international trade and environmental sustainability has become increasingly important in shaping global economic policies. This collection of thematic insights explores key areas where trade and the environment intersect, shedding light on the dynamics of environmentally related trade.

Europe has been the largest biodiversity-based products’ exporter globally, followed by Asia and Oceania and Americas

Biodiversity-based products’ exports by region, billions of dollars

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

The global value of exports of biodiversity-based goods reached $3.686 trillion in 2023, down from $3.864 in 2022. This trade showed resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing until 2022 and recording a moderate slowdown in 2023.

Despite a moderate downturn, Europe continued to lead exports of biodiversity-based products, totaling $1.819 trillion in 2023, accounting for almost half of global biodiversity-based products’ exports in that year, followed by Asia and Oceania with 26% and Americas with 22%. In African countries, exports of biodiversity-based products were almost the same, reaching $95.27 billion and representing 3% of global exports of such products. 

Data updated on 10 Jan 2025

Metadata

Trade flows and indicators showcased in the database cover all trade in biological resources, even if goods are produced without proper sustainability considerations (in short: biotrade), rather than BioTrade or even certified sustainable trade in biodiversity-based goods more generally. In fact, great efforts would be required to enable systematic data collection, particularly on trade, for certified sustainable goods that is comprehensive as well as comparable at a regional and/or global level. This is due to numerous reasons, including issues such as the proliferation of voluntary standards as well as standard-setting organizations across the globe, lack of harmonized trade-data on certified goods in general, or the confidential and sensitive nature of certain types of data.

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for Trade and Biodiversity - Trade in thousands of United States dollars.

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