Global trade rises in 2025 as manufacturing expands 11% – UNCTAD

By Abubakar Yunusa

Global trade recorded a notable upswing in 2025, driven largely by strong manufacturing activity, which expanded by 11%, even as volatile commodity prices created uneven performance across sectors.
This is according to the latest Global Trade Update (April 2026), titled “Global Trade Growth Continues, but Fragility Rises,” released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The report highlights a year in which industrial goods, particularly machinery, became the main driver of global trade expansion.
It also points to diverging trends across commodities, with gains in some areas offset by weakness in energy-related trade.
UNCTAD data shows that manufacturing was the strongest-performing segment of global trade in 2025, while commodity-linked sectors recorded mixed outcomes due to price fluctuations.
“Manufacturing recorded a strong year, expanding by around 11 per cent, driven by robust growth in machinery, including both electrical and non-electrical segments,” UNCTAD stated.
Agricultural trade also grew, supported by higher activity in cereals, animal products, coffee, tea and spices.
Rising global coffee prices contributed significantly to agricultural trade gains, although momentum slowed toward the end of the year.
Trade in natural resources declined overall, weighed down by weaker energy prices, though precious metals helped support segments within the base metals trade.
UNCTAD said commodity price volatility played a key role in shaping global trade patterns during the period.