UNCTAD said in its Global Trade Update released June 22 that global trade
continued to expand in 1H 2026, but with rising price pressures and a more
uneven pattern of growth. It estimates goods trade at about $13.7 trillion, up
12.5% YoY, and services trade up 10.5% YoY, with combined trade adding roughly
$2 trillion and on track for an annual record. Strong demand for high‑tech
goods—AI-related equipment, semiconductors and data‑centre infrastructure—was a
key driver. UNCTAD cautioned that price pressures, geopolitical tensions and
shifts in trade policy could weigh on future trade.
