Digitally-delivered services accounted for the biggest share and grew steadily. Digitally ordered trade—led by platforms like Alibaba, Amazon, Shopee and TikTok Shop—expanded even faster, at 16.7 per cent a year.
Global digital trade rose from $4.59 trillion in 2020 to $7.23 trillion in 2024, achieving an average annual growth rate of 12.1 per cent—faster than overall global trade at 9.7 per cent, a report said.
Digitally-delivered services accounted for the biggest share and grew steadily.
Despite this, digital trade’s share in total global trade rose only from 20.1 per cent to 21.9 per cent in the period.
Despite this momentum, digital trade’s share in total international trade rose only from 20.1 per cent to 21.9 per cent during the period, the report noted.
Developed economies, particularly the European Union (EU), the United States, and the United Kingdom, remained dominant, though emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil grew more quickly.
Notably, China’s digital trade exports surged by 10.7 per cent year on year (YoY) to $793.7 billion in 2024, helping steer the global digital trade landscape toward greater diversity and balance.
The report, titled ‘Global Digital Trade Development Report 2025’, was jointly compiled by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the organising committee of the expo.
The report also called for greater support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women entrepreneurs engaging in digital trade. An ITC survey revealed that women in developing countries still face barriers in international trade, while digital trade offers flexible employment opportunities, breaking time and geographical constraints.
Artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as a transformative force in digital trade, reshaping infrastructure, services and applications. Advances in large-model architectures, including the DeepSeek open-source ecosystem, lowered barriers for SMEs and spurred innovation across healthcare, education, finance and cross-border data markets, noted the report.
Differing strategies—commercialisation in the United States, regulation-first in the EU and an adaptable, scalable approach in China—are shaping the global AI landscape. AI tools also improved supply-chain efficiency, dynamic pricing and customer service in e-commerce, it said.
Cross-border e-commerce has become a primary engine of trade innovation, enabled by digital platforms, smart logistics and embedded finance.
Social-commerce models (such as Shein and TikTok Shop) and fast-turnaround production are reshaping consumer behaviour and supply chains.
Regulatory and logistical models show how coordinated governance can reduce friction and enable SME participation in global value chains, the report added.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
