Exploring interdependencies in global resource trade

Global resource trade

Nearly $6 trillion of natural resource commodities were traded in 2018

Global cereals trade

Trade in cereals from a few key regions supports global food security

China's resource imports

China depends on access to well-functioning markets for resource supply security

Global soybean trade

Huge demand from China’s livestock sector drives growing global imports

G-20 imports

Demand from G-20 countries accounts for over half of all resource imports

Sub-Saharan Africa resource exports

South Africa, Nigeria, and Angola lead, China and India are major importers

EU resource imports

Major source of demand for Russia’s resource exports, fossil fuels dominate

Intra-emerging market trade

Resource trade between middle income countries has expanded rapidly this century

Global metals and minerals trade

Still a quarter of all resource trade, but has been contracting since 2013

The volume of natural resources traded globally has increased over 60% since the turn of the century, reflecting and reinforcing new economic and geopolitical realities and bringing new environmental and social challenges – as well as opportunities. Now everyone can explore these fast-evolving dynamics through Chatham House’s comprehensive and accessible data and insights into resource trade.

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About resourcetrade.earth

resourcetrade.earth features Chatham House’s extensive and authoritative database of international trade in natural resources, developed from United Nations data. Find out more about the scope and technical details of the data featured on this site as well as the rationale for this project.

About resourcetrade.earth

Stories: deeper insights into resource trade

Stories are detailed explorations of different facets of resource trade and the economic, political, and environmental implications of resource interdependencies. Featuring expert analysis and insights from Chatham House and our partners, this section will continue to expand with new content over time.

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