India, Sept. 7 -- Services accounted for 71% of global intermediate inputs in 2022, while their share of global exports rose from 23% in 2015 to 27% in 2025, according to UNCTAD.

Digitally deliverable services now make up 56% of global services exports, after growing at an average annual rate of 7.1% over the past decade.

Least developed countries remain largely excluded from this shift, with digitally deliverable services accounting for just 16% of their services exports, compared with 61% in developed economies.

UNCTAD says weak connectivity, high payment costs, limited skills and low AI readiness risk widening the gap further.

Services are becoming central to global production and trade, accounting for 71 per cent of global interme...