GITNUXREPORT 2025

Trade Industry Statistics

Trade industry worth $18.9 trillion, driven by shipping, e-commerce growth.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Freight costs have decreased by about 15% over the last two years due to technological advancements

Statistic 2

The eco-friendly cargo ships, such as LNG-powered vessels, are expected to constitute 10% of the global fleet by 2030

Statistic 3

The use of artificial intelligence in supply chain management can reduce operational costs by up to 20%

Statistic 4

Technological innovations such as IoT are projected to increase supply chain visibility by 40% by 2026

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E-commerce trade increased by 27.6% globally in 2022

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The number of global trade agreements reached increased by 12% in 2023 compared to 2022

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The trade industry's employment growth rate is expected to be 5% annually through 2025

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The average global trade growth rate was approximately 3.5% annually from 2010 to 2019, before the pandemic

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Asia's share of global exports increased from 31% in 1990 to 59% in 2022

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The number of customs declarations globally increased by 8% in 2022, indicating growth in cross-border trade activities

Statistic 11

The rate of electronic bill of lading adoption in global trade is estimated at 35% in 2023, expected to reach 80% by 2027

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The expansion of free trade agreements has contributed to a 10% increase in global trade flows since 2018

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The volume of renewable energy equipment trade increased by over 30% in 2022, reflecting green trade initiatives

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The global trade industry is valued at approximately $18.9 trillion

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The Asia-Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of the world's trade volume

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The United States is the world’s largest importer, accounting for around 14% of global imports

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China is the world's largest exporter, with a 17.4% share of global exports in 2022

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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up about 90% of businesses involved in international trade

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The global logistics market is projected to reach $12 trillion by 2027

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The top five trading partners of the U.S. in 2023 are China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Germany

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Digital trade accounts for roughly 25% of total global trade

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The average freight container is worth approximately $2,500

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42% of global trade involves intermediary goods, not final products

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The use of blockchain technology in trade finance is projected to grow at a CAGR of 48% through 2025

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Nearly 50% of global trade is concentrated in just 20 countries

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The global trade finance market is valued at over $12 trillion, with projections to reach $17 trillion by 2027

Statistic 27

The share of the trade industry investing in automation and AI is projected to reach 60% by 2025

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The top three export categories globally are machinery, electronic equipment, and vehicles

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The average global trade deficit was approximately $900 billion in 2022

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The trade industry's carbon footprint is responsible for approximately 3.3% of global CO2 emissions

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The number of free trade zones worldwide has increased by 50% over the past decade, now totaling over 3,500 zones

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The volume of cross-border e-commerce trade is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% through 2027

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The global market for trade-related legal services is projected to reach $45 billion by 2025

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The global industry employing the most in trade logistics is warehousing and storage, representing about 25% of global logistics employment

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Approximately 65% of global trade involves manufactured goods, emphasizing the importance of industrial sectors

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The ranking of the world's largest trading countries consistently includes China, the United States, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands

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The share of women participating in international trade is estimated at 30%, with higher participation rates in certain regions

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The majority of international trade transactions are settled in US dollars, representing approximately 88% of all foreign exchange transactions

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The global trade surplus for the European Union was approximately €250 billion in 2022, sourced from trade balance reports

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Approximately 75% of world merchandise trade is conducted via sea transportation

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The transportation sector accounts for roughly 60% of global trade costs

Statistic 42

Approximately 90% of global goods trade is transported via shipping

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About 80% of global trade relies on container transportation

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The average time for cross-border trade to clear customs is roughly 48 hours

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The top three ports handling the most container traffic are Shanghai, Singapore, and Ningbo-Zhoushan

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The majority of consumer goods exports are shipped via ocean freight, accounting for about 90%

Statistic 47

The average dwell time for freight trucks at customs in Europe is approximately 3 hours

Statistic 48

China’s Belt and Road Initiative has invested over $500 billion into infrastructure projects across participating countries

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The highest air freight cost per kilogram is in Africa, averaging around $4.20, due to infrastructural challenges

Statistic 50

The digitalization of customs procedures has reduced clearance times by approximately 25%

Statistic 51

The percentage of imports that are automatically processed at customs in developed countries is over 70%, enhancing efficiency

Statistic 52

The average time to resolve a trade dispute through arbitration is approximately 12 months, significantly shorter than court litigation

Statistic 53

The average customs clearance time for perishable goods is approximately 24 hours, given strict regulations

Statistic 54

The majority of trade disputes in recent years are related to intellectual property rights, constituting roughly 35% of all trade disputes

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Key Highlights

The global trade industry is valued at approximately $18.9 trillion
Approximately 75% of world merchandise trade is conducted via sea transportation
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of the world's trade volume
E-commerce trade increased by 27.6% globally in 2022
The United States is the world’s largest importer, accounting for around 14% of global imports
China is the world's largest exporter, with a 17.4% share of global exports in 2022
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up about 90% of businesses involved in international trade
The transportation sector accounts for roughly 60% of global trade costs
The number of global trade agreements reached increased by 12% in 2023 compared to 2022
Approximately 90% of global goods trade is transported via shipping
Freight costs have decreased by about 15% over the last two years due to technological advancements
The global logistics market is projected to reach $12 trillion by 2027
About 80% of global trade relies on container transportation

As the global trade industry approaches an astounding $18.9 trillion valuation, with over 75% of merchandise moving by sea and Asia-Pacific dominating nearly 60% of trade volume, it’s clear that rapid technological advances, expanding e-commerce, and shifting geopolitical landscapes are shaping the future of international commerce.

Technological Innovations and Sustainability in Trade

Freight costs have decreased by about 15% over the last two years due to technological advancements
The eco-friendly cargo ships, such as LNG-powered vessels, are expected to constitute 10% of the global fleet by 2030
The use of artificial intelligence in supply chain management can reduce operational costs by up to 20%
Technological innovations such as IoT are projected to increase supply chain visibility by 40% by 2026

Technological Innovations and Sustainability in Trade Interpretation

With freight costs falling and greener, smarter ships and supply chains on the horizon, the trade industry is swiftly steering toward an eco-friendly, AI-optimized future—proving that innovation isn't just a ship in the night but the whole fleet's compass forward.

Trade Dynamics and Growth Trends

E-commerce trade increased by 27.6% globally in 2022
The number of global trade agreements reached increased by 12% in 2023 compared to 2022
The trade industry's employment growth rate is expected to be 5% annually through 2025
The average global trade growth rate was approximately 3.5% annually from 2010 to 2019, before the pandemic
Asia's share of global exports increased from 31% in 1990 to 59% in 2022
The number of customs declarations globally increased by 8% in 2022, indicating growth in cross-border trade activities
The rate of electronic bill of lading adoption in global trade is estimated at 35% in 2023, expected to reach 80% by 2027
The expansion of free trade agreements has contributed to a 10% increase in global trade flows since 2018
The volume of renewable energy equipment trade increased by over 30% in 2022, reflecting green trade initiatives

Trade Dynamics and Growth Trends Interpretation

While global trade is surging—e-commerce soaring by 27.6%, trade agreements climbing 12%, and Asia cementing its export dominance—it's clear that the industry is evolving swiftly, embracing digital logistics like eBills and green energy trade, hinting at a future where adaptability is as vital as volume.

Trade Industry Overview and Market Size

The global trade industry is valued at approximately $18.9 trillion
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of the world's trade volume
The United States is the world’s largest importer, accounting for around 14% of global imports
China is the world's largest exporter, with a 17.4% share of global exports in 2022
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up about 90% of businesses involved in international trade
The global logistics market is projected to reach $12 trillion by 2027
The top five trading partners of the U.S. in 2023 are China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Germany
Digital trade accounts for roughly 25% of total global trade
The average freight container is worth approximately $2,500
42% of global trade involves intermediary goods, not final products
The use of blockchain technology in trade finance is projected to grow at a CAGR of 48% through 2025
Nearly 50% of global trade is concentrated in just 20 countries
The global trade finance market is valued at over $12 trillion, with projections to reach $17 trillion by 2027
The share of the trade industry investing in automation and AI is projected to reach 60% by 2025
The top three export categories globally are machinery, electronic equipment, and vehicles
The average global trade deficit was approximately $900 billion in 2022
The trade industry's carbon footprint is responsible for approximately 3.3% of global CO2 emissions
The number of free trade zones worldwide has increased by 50% over the past decade, now totaling over 3,500 zones
The volume of cross-border e-commerce trade is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% through 2027
The global market for trade-related legal services is projected to reach $45 billion by 2025
The global industry employing the most in trade logistics is warehousing and storage, representing about 25% of global logistics employment
Approximately 65% of global trade involves manufactured goods, emphasizing the importance of industrial sectors
The ranking of the world's largest trading countries consistently includes China, the United States, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands
The share of women participating in international trade is estimated at 30%, with higher participation rates in certain regions
The majority of international trade transactions are settled in US dollars, representing approximately 88% of all foreign exchange transactions
The global trade surplus for the European Union was approximately €250 billion in 2022, sourced from trade balance reports

Trade Industry Overview and Market Size Interpretation

With global trade valued at nearly $19 trillion and over half of it orchestrated by Asia-Pacific, it's clear that even in a digital age, the world's economy remains as interconnected—and as complex—as a high-stakes game of international chess, where small and medium enterprises are the unsung knights moving trade forward, blockchain technology is the new queen promising to revolutionize finance, and each container's modest $2,500 value belies its crucial role in fueling a global system responsible for 3.3% of CO2 emissions—all underlining that while automation aims to transform the industry, the balance of trade, like geopolitics, continues to navigate a delicate dance of deficits, surpluses, and ever-evolving regulations.

Trade Infrastructure and Logistics

Approximately 75% of world merchandise trade is conducted via sea transportation
The transportation sector accounts for roughly 60% of global trade costs
Approximately 90% of global goods trade is transported via shipping
About 80% of global trade relies on container transportation
The average time for cross-border trade to clear customs is roughly 48 hours
The top three ports handling the most container traffic are Shanghai, Singapore, and Ningbo-Zhoushan
The majority of consumer goods exports are shipped via ocean freight, accounting for about 90%
The average dwell time for freight trucks at customs in Europe is approximately 3 hours
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has invested over $500 billion into infrastructure projects across participating countries
The highest air freight cost per kilogram is in Africa, averaging around $4.20, due to infrastructural challenges
The digitalization of customs procedures has reduced clearance times by approximately 25%
The percentage of imports that are automatically processed at customs in developed countries is over 70%, enhancing efficiency
The average time to resolve a trade dispute through arbitration is approximately 12 months, significantly shorter than court litigation
The average customs clearance time for perishable goods is approximately 24 hours, given strict regulations

Trade Infrastructure and Logistics Interpretation

With approximately 75% of world merchandise sailing the seas and 90% of goods transported via shipping, it's clear that global trade hinges on maritime prowess, while evolving customs digitalization and strategic port hubs like Shanghai and Singapore keep the global economy shipshape—even as high costs and infrastructural challenges in regions like Africa remind us that smooth sailing still requires navigational innovation.

Trade Policies, Agreements, and Legal Frameworks

The majority of trade disputes in recent years are related to intellectual property rights, constituting roughly 35% of all trade disputes

Trade Policies, Agreements, and Legal Frameworks Interpretation

With intellectual property disputes accounting for over a third of recent trade conflicts, it’s clear that in the race for innovation and ownership, battles over ideas have become the new frontline.