Africa’s imports surge as East Asia leads exports in global trade expansion - report
Africa and East Asia are powering global trade growth in 2025, with rising imports and exports offsetting slower activity in North America and Europe, UNCTAD reports, and pushing trade toward a record year.
Africa and East Asia are the main drivers of global trade growth this year, driving expansion even as other regions slow.
According to the latest figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), trade flows are on track for a record-breaking year, fueled by rising imports and exports across developing economies.
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“Trade growth remained positive in Q3 2025, supported by developing economies, strong South–South trade, and robust performance in Africa and East Asia,” reads the Global Trade Update report.
Notably, Africa recorded solid growth in imports, rising 10 per cent over the past four quarters, while exports grew six per cent.
East Asia, on the other hand, posted the strongest export growth globally, with intra-regional trade up 10 per cent during the review period.
Overall, the organisation notes that these two regions have posted the strongest growth so far.
The surge in trade from these regions contrasts with slower growth in North America and Europe, underscoring the shifting balance of global commerce.
Global trade remained positive in the third quarter, expanding by 2.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
Goods trade increased nearly two per cent from Q2, while services grew four per cent.
UNCTAD says this upward trend will continue, with goods expected to grow 0.5 per cent and services 2 per cent by the end of Q4.
If these projections hold, global trade in 2025 could surpass $35 trillion, an increase of roughly seven per cent from 2024, a mark the organisation describes as record-breaking.
Looking ahead to 2026, it warns that global trade growth may slow due to rising geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty and higher trade costs.
While sectors like digital technologies, AI and environmental industries could provide targeted support, weaker economic momentum and trade frictions are expected to weigh on overall growth.
Despite these challenges, optimism remains in developing regions.
UNCTAD notes that increasing openness and investment in cross-border commerce could expand intra-regional trade further.
“Sentiment toward trade remains broadly supportive in many developing regions, sustaining commitments to increasing openness and investment in cross-border commerce.”
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