Global merchandise trade reached 24.9 trillion USD. Commercial services trade grew 11 percent to 6.2 trillion USD. Bilateral flows between major economies show distinct patterns across goods categories and partner pairs.
Key Takeaways
- US-China bilateral goods trade totaled 690.6 billion USD in 2022
- In 2022, global merchandise trade reached 24.9 trillion USD, marking a 2.7% increase from 2021
- Trade contributes 60% to global GDP growth since 1990, per World Bank
- US has 14 active Free Trade Agreements covering 20 countries as of 2023
- World exports of fuels reached 2.9 trillion USD in 2022, up 42% from 2021
Trade statistics show robust growth, with exports rising faster than imports.
Related reading
01 · Category
Bilateral Trade26 stats
01
US-China bilateral goods trade totaled 690.6 billion USD in 2022
02
EU-US goods trade reached 1.2 trillion EUR in 2022, with EU surplus of 153 billion EUR
03
China-EU bilateral trade volume hit 847.3 billion USD in 2022
04
US-Canada trade in goods and services was 916 billion USD in 2022
05
India-US bilateral trade grew to 191.4 billion USD in FY2022-23
06
Japan-China trade volume was 375.5 billion USD in 2022
07
UK-Germany bilateral goods trade totaled 147 billion GBP in 2022
08
Mexico-US trade reached 877.6 billion USD in 2022 under USMCA
09
South Korea-US FTA trade volume was 169.8 billion USD in 2022
10
Australia-China trade surplus for China was 58 billion AUD in 2022
11
Brazil-China bilateral trade hit 150.5 billion USD in 2022
12
Russia-EU trade dropped 35% to 257 billion EUR in 2022 due to sanctions
13
Vietnam-US trade reached 138.7 billion USD in 2022 with US deficit of 105 billion USD
14
Saudi Arabia-China trade volume was 106.7 billion USD in 2022
15
Germany-France intra-EU trade was 166 billion EUR in 2022
16
US-EU bilateral services trade was 0.58 trillion USD in 2022
17
China-Japan services trade reached 52 billion USD in 2022
18
India-China bilateral trade was 135.98 billion USD in FY2022-23
19
Canada-Mexico trade totaled 48.3 billion CAD in 2022
20
UK-EU trade fell 14% post-Brexit to 668 billion GBP in 2022
21
ASEAN-China trade volume hit 975 billion USD in 2022
22
Turkey-US bilateral goods trade was 32 billion USD in 2022
23
Indonesia-Australia trade reached 25.4 billion AUD in 2022
24
Nigeria-UK trade was 7.8 billion GBP in 2022
25
Switzerland-China trade volume 65 billion CHF in 2022
26
Egypt-EU bilateral trade totaled 48 billion EUR in 2022
Interpretation
Bilateral Trade Interpretation
The global trade dance floor is a crowded, tangled, and surprisingly petty place, where everyone is frenetically swapping partners but can't stop side-eyeing their own wallets and geopolitical baggage.
02 · Category
Global Trade Volumes24 stats
01
In 2022, global merchandise trade reached 24.9 trillion USD, marking a 2.7% increase from 2021
02
World trade in commercial services amounted to 6.2 trillion USD in 2022, up 11% from the previous year
03
China's merchandise exports hit 3.59 trillion USD in 2022, accounting for 14.7% of global exports
04
US merchandise imports totaled 3.38 trillion USD in 2022, representing 13.4% of world imports
05
EU27 merchandise trade surplus with the world was 0.12 trillion EUR in 2022
06
Global trade growth slowed to 0.8% in 2023 after 5.5% in 2022, per WTO estimates
07
Merchandise trade volume index stood at 128.5 (2015=100) in 2022
08
Services trade volume grew by 8% in 2022 to index 132 (2015=100)
09
Developing economies' share in world merchandise exports rose to 45% in 2022
10
Least-developed countries' exports grew 15% in 2022 to 0.28 trillion USD
11
Intra-Asian trade accounted for 57% of Asia's total trade in 2022
12
North-South trade flows increased by 4.2% in 2022
13
Energy products made up 12% of world merchandise trade value in 2022
14
Global container port throughput reached 802 million TEUs in 2022
15
Air cargo trade volume grew 9.5% in 2022 to 62 million tonnes
16
E-commerce cross-border trade reached 785 billion USD in 2022, 2.7% of total trade
17
Germany's merchandise exports were 1.64 trillion EUR in 2022
18
Japan imports totaled 1.09 trillion USD in 2022
19
South Africa's trade balance deficit was 24.8 billion USD in 2022
20
Netherlands re-exports accounted for 80% of its trade in 2022
21
Singapore's total trade was 1.02 trillion SGD in 2022
22
World services exports grew 26% in 2021 to 6 trillion USD
23
Transport services trade was 1.5 trillion USD in 2022
24
Financial services exports totaled 0.3 trillion USD globally in 2022
Interpretation
Global Trade Volumes Interpretation
Global merchandise trade grew modestly while services surged, yet beneath these record-breaking headline trillions lies a complex, slower-moving reality of shifting balances, regional interdependence, and a world where China exports, America imports, and e-commerce still only scratches the surface.
03 · Category
Trade Impacts25 stats
01
Trade contributes 60% to global GDP growth since 1990, per World Bank
02
Open economies grow 1.4-2.0% faster annually than closed ones
03
Trade lifted 1 billion people out of poverty since 1990
04
US exports support 10.7 million jobs as of 2022
05
Global value chains account for 70% of international trade and 50% manufacturing exports
06
Trade openness correlates with 0.5-1% higher GDP per capita growth
07
EU single market boosts trade by 8-15% among members
08
Developing countries' export diversification reduces poverty by 1.4% per index point
09
US trade deficit equivalent to 3.7% of GDP in 2022, impacting manufacturing jobs
10
Freight transport emissions from trade rose 19% from 2015-2021 to 2.5 GtCO2
11
Trade agreements increase FDI by 30% on average
12
Services trade liberalization boosts productivity growth by 0.5% annually
13
Gender gap in trade: women-owned firms export 13% less than male-owned
14
Trade wars reduced global welfare by 0.3% GDP in 2018-2019
15
Trade supports 1 in 5 jobs worldwide, per ILO estimates
16
Export-oriented manufacturing employs 200 million workers globally
17
Trade reduces consumer prices by 10-20% for import-competing goods
18
Bilateral trade agreements increase exports by 35% on average
19
Global trade fragmentation could cost 7% world GDP by 2024, per IMF
20
Women represent 40% of informal cross-border traders in Africa
21
Trade in intermediate goods is 50% of total trade value
22
COVID-19 disrupted supply chains, reducing trade by 8.2% in 2020
23
Renewable energy trade grew 20% to 300 billion USD in 2022
24
Digital trade flows reached 4.5 trillion USD in 2022
25
Tariff reductions since 1947 cut average tariffs from 22% to 9%
Interpretation
Trade Impacts Interpretation
The statistics confirm that global trade, for all its complex challenges and undeniable environmental footprint, remains the most potent engine for economic growth, poverty reduction, and job creation we have ever built, proving that when we open doors instead of closing them, prosperity tends to walk right in.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trade Policies and Agreements25 stats
01
US has 14 active Free Trade Agreements covering 20 countries as of 2023
02
CPTPP has 11 member countries representing 13% of global GDP in 2023
03
RCEP covers 30% of global GDP and population with 15 Asia-Pacific nations
04
EU has 45 trade agreements in force with 72 countries as of 2023
05
US-China Phase One trade deal aimed for 200 billion USD additional purchases by 2021
06
WTO has 164 members accounting for 98% of world trade as of 2023
07
Mercosur common market includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay with GDP 3 trillion USD
08
US imposed tariffs on 370 billion USD Chinese goods under Section 301 since 2018
09
AfCFTA launched in 2021 covers 1.3 billion people and 3.4 trillion USD GDP
10
UK's post-Brexit trade deals include 73 rolled-over agreements covering 95 countries
11
India has 13 FTAs and 6 CEPA in force as of 2023
12
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism starts 2026 on imports worth 4% EU GDP
13
USMCA replaced NAFTA with rules of origin requiring 75% North American content for autos
14
WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement ratified by 163 members, reducing trade costs 14.3%
15
Global trade restrictions rose to 3,378 measures affecting 1.5% world trade in 2022
16
EU-Japan EPA eliminated 99% tariffs, boosting trade by 6% since 2019
17
US-Korea KORUS FTA increased bilateral trade 30% since 2012
18
Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru) intra-trade doubled to 50 billion USD since 2011
19
WTO e-commerce moratorium renewed until 2026, covering digital trade rules
20
EU-Vietnam FTA removes 99% tariffs, effective since 2020
21
US tariffs on steel at 25% and aluminum 10% since 2018 under Section 232
22
Canada's CETA with EU eliminates 98% tariffs, trade up 20% since 2017
23
ASEAN free trade area covers 650 million people, intra-trade 25% of total
24
US suspends 102% tariffs on India steel under new trade deal 2023
25
Global subsidies for fossil fuels in trade reached 1 trillion USD in 2022
Interpretation
Trade Policies and Agreements Interpretation
While the world stitches itself together with ambitious trade pacts and contentious tariffs, this intricate tapestry reveals a global economy perpetually negotiating between open borders and protected interests.
05 · Category
Trade by Commodity30 stats
01
World exports of fuels reached 2.9 trillion USD in 2022, up 42% from 2021
02
Integrated circuits trade value was 524 billion USD in 2022
03
Cars global trade totaled 484 billion USD in 2022
04
Crude petroleum exports were 1.2 trillion USD in 2022
05
Gold trade volume reached 252 billion USD in 2022
06
Telephones exports hit 468 billion USD in 2022
07
Soybeans global trade was 67 billion USD in 2022
08
Refined petroleum imports totaled 1.1 trillion USD in 2022
09
Iron ore trade volume was 117 billion USD in 2022
10
Packaged medicaments exports reached 202 billion USD in 2022
11
Broadcasting equipment trade was 309 billion USD in 2022
12
Coffee global trade totaled 40 billion USD in 2022
13
Cotton exports were 15 billion USD in 2022
14
Passenger and cargo ships trade value hit 78 billion USD in 2022
15
Vaccines, blood, antisera trade reached 58 billion USD in 2022
16
bananas global trade was 16 billion USD in 2022
17
Electrical machinery trade value was 2.3 trillion USD in 2022
18
Machinery including computers exports 1.9 trillion USD in 2022
19
Plastics global trade totaled 260 billion USD in 2022
20
Rubber exports reached 30 billion USD in 2022
21
Chemicals trade value was 950 billion USD in 2022
22
Fertilizers global trade 55 billion USD in 2022
23
Aluminum exports totaled 110 billion USD in 2022
24
Copper trade volume 120 billion USD in 2022
25
Wheat global trade was 52 billion USD in 2022
26
Rice exports reached 38 billion USD in 2022
27
Meat global trade totaled 80 billion USD in 2022
28
Fish exports 165 billion USD in 2022
29
Wood products trade 170 billion USD in 2022
30
Paper exports 45 billion USD in 2022
Interpretation
Trade by Commodity Interpretation
The world's economy runs on black gold, silicon brains, and steel horses, but it still can't function without its morning coffee, a reliable pair of shoes, and a steady supply of vaccines and bananas.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Trade Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/trade-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Trade Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/trade-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Trade Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/trade-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level