Commodities | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

A seaweed farmer in Indonesia.

Seaweed-producing countries seek to capture more value as global market grows

Seaweed is an increasingly valuable global commodity, but many producing countries are capturing only a small share of its potential value. UN efforts are under way to close this gap.

More news

A miner in Potosi, Bolivia.

New dashboard helps countries chart a path beyond commodity dependence

Gode wereda Dolo Baad distribution centre, Somali Region, Ethiopia.

Hormuz reopening may calm markets, but vulnerable economies face lasting consequences

A nickel mine in Indonesia.

Critical minerals are reshaping global trade as demand surges

Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno met with Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina in Antananarivo on 5 June.

Madagascar shows how critical minerals can power jobs and industrial growth

Worker checks pipes at crude oil factory.

New UNCTAD monitor warns vulnerable economies face the heaviest burden from oil shocks

Latest publications

Commodities at a Glance: Palm oil trade at a crossroads

Commodities at a Glance: Palm oil trade at a crossroads

Cover for Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Beyond reopening - lasting impacts on vulnerable economies

Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Beyond reopening - lasting impacts on vulnerable economies

Cover for Global Trade Update (June 2026): The shifting dynamics of critical minerals trade

Global Trade Update (June 2026): The shifting dynamics of critical minerals trade

Cover for Rapid assessment of value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain: Madagascar

Rapid assessment of value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain: Madagascar

Cover for Strait of Hormuz disruptions: The burden of oil price shocks on vulnerable economies

Strait of Hormuz disruptions: The burden of oil price shocks on vulnerable economies

More publications

Featured series

Cover of Commodities and Development Report 2023

Commodities and Development Report (Series)

Cover of Commodities at a Glance: Palm oil trade at a crossroads

Commodities at a Glance

Cover of The State of Commodity Dependence 2025

The State of Commodity Dependence

Series: World commodity trends and prospects (UNSG Reports)

World commodity trends and prospects (UNSG Reports)

Videos and podcasts

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions: The burden of oil price shocks on vulnerable economies

The role of nuclear energy in a sustainable future

Unlocking hemp's potential: A path to sustainable growth and development

Copper: Essential to our move to clean energy – but at what cost?

UN report: Unlocking Africa’s trade potential

Related

Areas of work

Projects

Meetings

Multi-year Expert Meeting on Commodities and Development, 17th session

22 – 23 October 2026

Multi-year Expert Meeting on Commodities and Development, 17th session

Geneva, Switzerland

11 June 2026

Expert group on trade, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition: navigating sustainability, development and security objectives

Switzerland

5 June 2026

Presentation of the rapid assessment of value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain: Madagascar

Antananarivo, Madagascar

5 May 2026

The new resource frontier: Critical minerals and innovation for development (STI Forum 2026 - Side Event)

Geneva and Johannesburg

19 February 2026

Presentation of the rapid assessment of value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain: Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia

17 February 2026

Presentation of the rapid assessment of value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain: Zambia

Lusaka, Zambia

All meetings and events

Documents

21 Aug 2026

Commodities at a Glance: Palm oil trade at a crossroads

11 Aug 2026

Navigating commodity price volatility

30 Jun 2026

Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Beyond reopening - lasting impacts on vulnerable economies

11 Jun 2026

Global Trade Update (June 2026): The shifting dynamics of critical minerals trade

05 Jun 2026

Évaluation rapide de la valeur ajoutée et de la diversification au sein et au-delà de la chaîne de valeur des minerais essentiels à la transition énergétique: Madagascar

02 Jun 2026

Strait of Hormuz disruptions: The burden of oil price shocks on vulnerable economies

Contact

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