Sourav ShekharNew Delhi, July 24 -- Global trade growth was strong in the first quarter of 2026, expanding by 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), and goods trade and services increased by 4.8 and 1.6 per cent, respectively, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its report on Friday.
The report suggested positive momentum into the second quarter of the current year, with estimates showing QoQ growth of 6.4pc for goods and 2.1pc for services.
UNCTAD noted that overall global trade is expected to increase by USD 2 trillion in the first half of 2026, and it will reach the record annual value.
Global trade inflation rose sharply to 3.6pc in QoQ in the first quarter, and UNCTAD predicted that it will ...