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.

Differing trends in merchandise exports growth

Merchandise exports growth rate, percentage, 2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat and World Trade Organization.

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Developing economies' exports growth in 2024 (5.3%) was led by the performance of large developing economies in Asia such as China (5.8%), Hong Kong, China (12.5%) and Viet Nam (14.4%).

The North exported more merchandise than the South in 2024: developed economies contributed $13.3 trillion and developing economies $11.1 trillion to the value of world total exports.

Data updated on 6 Oct 2025

Global export value grew by 2.4% in 2024, approaching the 2022 peak

World merchandise exports, trillions of dollars

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat and World Trade Organization.

The dotted line indicates UNCTAD nowcasts (as of 14 October 2025). Nowcasts are constantly revised as new source data become available. For the weekly update of the nowcast and its methodology, see the Nowcasts page.

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In 2024, the value of world merchandise exports increased by 2.4% after having fallen in 2023. Global exports amounted to $24.5 trillion, remaining $447 billion less than the value in 2022. But they are nowcast to reach a new high of $26.2 trillion in 2025.

Developing countries' share of total exports was 46% in 2024, having grown steadily from 29% in 2000. Least Developed Countries' share, meanwhile, was just 1.1% in 2024, barely moving from the 1% seen in 2010.

Data updated on 6 Oct 2025

Trade growth in 2024 led by developing Asia and Oceania, with developed economies stagnant

Merchandise trade annual growth rates, percentage, 2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat and World Trade Organization.

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In 2024, developing economies led trade growth, in particular Asia and Oceania whose exports grew by 5.7% and imports by 5.9%. Developing Americas' exports grew by 4.5%, developing Africa's by 1.5%, while developed economies’ merchandise trade saw an increase of 0.1%.

On the imports side, developed economies stayed flat. 

Data updated on 6 Oct 2025

Developed economies continue with a negative trade balance

Merchandise trade balance, billions of dollars

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat and World Trade Organization.

Trade balances do not add up to zero at world level due to transport and insurance costs included in imports and cross-country differences in compilation methods.

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Developing economies saw a slightly increased trade surplus in 2024 compared to the previous year. Their trade balance stood at $778 billion in 2024, still below the $819 billion seen in 2022. At the same time, developed economies saw a largely flat merchandise trade deficit in 2024 of $1.1 trillion.

Data updated on 6 Oct 2025

Metadata

The figures on international merchandise trade in this chapter measure the value of goods which add or subtract from the stock of material resources of an economy by entering or leaving its territory. This definition is slightly different from the definition of trade in goods in the balance-of-payments framework.

The value of exports is mostly recorded as the free-on-board (FOB) value, whereas the value of imports includes cost, insurance and freight (CIF).

The trade balance is calculated as the difference between the values of exports and imports.

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for:

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