The World Trade Organization raises its forecast for global goods trade growth in 2026

Geneva, October 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Trade Organization released its latest global trade outlook report on the 8th, stating that due to supply chain adjustments and strong investment in the field of artificial intelligence, global trade in goods is expected to grow by 3.9% in 2026, higher than the 1.9% forecast in March, and is expected to grow by 4.1% in 2027.

The report also shows that due to the impact of the Middle East conflict on transportation and international travel, global trade in services is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2026, lower than the 4.8% forecast in March, and will grow by 6.4% in 2027.

The Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ivira, stated that in the face of shocks, an integrated world economy and rule-based trading system provide flexibility for economies, allowing essential goods to continue flowing to businesses and households that need them.

But she also pointed out that not all economies can seize new opportunities such as artificial intelligence, so it is necessary to ensure that the rule-based trading system can continue to withstand shocks, bridge gaps, and share opportunities.

The report shows that in the first half of this year, global trade in goods grew by 3.5%, exceeding expectations, indicating that the supply chain has the ability to cope with the impact of the Middle East conflict on the energy, fertilizer, and transportation markets. At the same time, there is strong demand for artificial intelligence related products, with trade in AI related goods such as semiconductors and servers growing by 67% year-on-year, further accelerating compared to 2024 and 2025.