UN Report: Global Trade Value Set to Hit Record High in 2025, Amidst Uncertain Outlook

On December 9, 2025, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its year-end Global Trade Update report. It projects that the value of global trade will grow by approximately 7% in 2025, an increase of $2.2 trillion, reaching a new record of $35 trillion, driven by trade in East Asia, Africa, and South-South exchanges. The report notes that despite a slowdown in trade momentum due to geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and uneven global demand, trade values continued to rise in the second half of 2025.

Manufacturing, particularly electronics, served as the main engine of growth, while the energy and automotive sectors lagged. However, the report cautions that significant global trade imbalances persist and geopolitical factors are reshaping trade flows, casting uncertainty over the trade prospects for 2026.