Global trade rebounds with 2% growth in January 2026, led by Asia and UK surge
Global trade volumes jumped by 2% in January 2026, marking a strong recovery after a sluggish December. Emerging Asia and the UK drove growth, while Eastern Europe and Japan saw declines. This shift could influence prices, supply chains, and economic stability for businesses and consumers worldwide.
| Category | Change (%) | Key Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Global Trade Volume | +2.0 | N/A |
| Imports (Emerging Asia) | +8.8 | China (+6.9%), Other emerging Asian nations |
| Imports (Declines) | -5.3 to -2.5 | Eastern Europe (-5.3%), UK (-3.4%), Japan (-2.5%) |
| Exports (UK) | +12.5 | Volatile due to precious metals trade |
| Exports (US) | +7.5 | N/A |
| Exports (Declines) | -9.6 to -1.5 | Eastern Europe (-9.6%), Eurozone (-1.5%) |
| Global Industrial Production | +0.5 | N/A |
The CPB World Trade Monitor, published by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), tracks global trade and industrial production trends. It provides essential data for policymakers, businesses, and economists to assess economic health and inform decisions on trade policies and economic strategies.
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CPB World Trade Monitor January 2026
Global trade volume increased by 2.0% in January 2026 compared to December. The previous month saw a rise of 0.1%. This is according to the monthly CPB World Trade Monitor. On the import side, emerging Asia (+8.8%) and China (+6.9%) in particular recorded growth. In contrast, imports declined in Eastern Europe (-5.3%), the United Kingdom (-3.4%) and Japan (-2.5%). On the export side, the United Kingdom stands out with a significant increase (12.5%). The UK's imports and exports are volatile due to trade in precious metals. Many Asian countries and regions also saw substantial export growth. Asian countries and regions are increasingly trading among themselves. Furthermore, exports from the United States (+7.5%) rose significantly. Exports from Eastern Europe (-9.6%), the group of other developed economies (-1.6%) and the eurozone (-1.5%) declined.
How has the changed in
- +2%
The CPB World Trade Monitor (WTM) is an instrument for compiling, aggregating and summarising worldwide monthly data on international trade and industrial production.
In the WTM, ‘trade’ refers to trade in goods (also known as ‘merchandise trade’). ‘Production’ refers to industrial production, i.e. value added in mining, manufacturing and utilities (also known as ‘industry excluding construction’).
The production monitor covers 85 countries worldwide. These countries account for about 97% of global industrial production. The trade monitor covers 81 countries. Coverage of world trade is almost 99%.
Global developments in international trade and industrial production, January 2026:
- Global trade volume increased by 2.0% in January compared to December, following a rise of 0.1% in December (initial estimate: 0.4%).
- The momentum of world trade was 1.7% in January (non-annualised; momentum December: 0.5%, initial estimate: 0.6%).
- Global industrial production increased by 0.5% in January compared to December (December development: 0.7%, in line with initial estimate).
- The momentum of global industrial production was 1.0% in January (non-annualised; momentum December: 0.7%, initial estimate: 0.9%).
The next monthly CPB World Trade Monitor for the reporting month of February 2026 will be published on 24 April 2026 at 12:00.
Downloads
- World Trade Monitor Database January 2026 Excel, 348.86 kB
- Download
- World Trade Monitor memo January 2026 Pdf 579.59 kB
- CPB memo Technical changes to WTM Pdf 548.65 kB
- Technical description Pdf 553.17 kB
The CPB publishes the World Trade Monitor on behalf of the European Commission each month as a tool to monitor the development of world trade. It takes two months for the figures to become available. The next CPB World Trade Monitor for the reporting month of February 2026 will be published on 24 April 2026. For questions, please contact .
Also read the accompanying CPB Background Document ‘The CPB World Trade Monitor: technical description (update 2023)’. If you wish, we can send you an email as soon as a new update of the CPB World Trade Monitor is published. To subscribe to the alert service, please sign up on the sign-up page for "Publications for policymakers".
The World Trade Monitor is co-financed by DG ECFIN (Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission).
Contact persons
Marco Ligthart +31 88 984 6181 Contact Read more
Maarten van 't Riet +31 88 984 6179 Contact Read more
Bram Hendriks +31 88 984 6125 Contact Read more