India, July 23 -- Global trade grew by about 4% in the first quarter of 2026, with goods trade rising 4.8% and services trade up 1.6%, UNCTAD said.

The UN agency said much of the increase reflected higher prices, driven by energy, transport, logistics and production costs.

East Asia led the growth, with the Republic of Korea and China posting the strongest gains among major economies.

Demand for AI-related products, semiconductors, batteries, critical minerals and electric vehicles is expected to support trade through the second half of 2026.

Global trade grew by about 4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, despite geopolitical tensions and concerns over supply chains, according to a United Nations report.

Goods trade rose by 4.8 p...