East Asia and Africa emerged as the main engines of global trade growth in 2025, helping lift world commerce to about $35 trillion, according to the April 2026 Global Trade Update by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report said the gains were also reinforced by stronger South-South trade, underscoring the growing role of developing economies in shaping global trade flows.
UNCTAD said trade expansion was broad-based, but the strongest advances came from developing regions, particularly East Asia and Africa. It noted that these regions outperformed the global average in both imports and exports, reflecting resilient industrial activity, stronger demand, and deeper trade links among developing markets.
The report added that South-South trade recorded above-average growth in 2025 and expanded by about 9 per cent over the past 12 months. Much of that momentum was driven by East Asian economies, while trade among developing countries outside the region also remained supportive of overall growth.
The data point to a reordering of trade growth across regions. UNCTAD said trade among developing economies is becoming more important as supply chains adjust to geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty, and changing demand patterns in advanced economies.
The document also showed that developing economies were not only contributing to trade volumes but also helping to stabilize global flows. That resilience matters at a time when trade relationships are becoming more fragmented, and countries are seeking to diversify partners and reduce exposure to external shocks.
UNCTAD said the outlook remains uneven, but the strength of East Asia, Africa, and South-South trade offers some support to the global system. The report suggested that sustained regional cooperation, stronger intra-African commerce, and deeper links among developing markets could remain important buffers against a weaker global environment in 2026.
