ABS global trade is projected at 4.1 million tons in 2025, down 2% from 2024. Prominent trends include an increase in Asia-Pacific exports to other regions, a decline in exports from Western Europe to other regions, and lower intra-regional trade in both regions.

ITP’s projections for global trade volume have consistently been within two percentage points of actual. The trend in global trade volume generally indicates the trend in global demand, given supply availability.

Intra-regional trade in Asia-Pacific region is projected to drop by 5%, to 2.1 million tons. Exports to other regions, however, are projected up 4%, to 809,000 tons, on gains to every region except the Middle East. The highest volumes are to Western and Eastern Europe, North America, and Latin America.

Intra-regional trade in Western Europe is also projected to slow, down 1%, to 387,000 tons; unlike Asia-Pacific, shipments to other regions are also projected down for the year. Exports abroad are projected at 346,000 tons, down 7%. Top export destinations for Western Europe are Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific with small volumes to North and Latin America.

From International Trader Publications’ ABS World Trade Analysis, based on the latest trade statistics from all reporting countries.