Commodities | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

A graph showing that global growth shows no signs of picking up in the near term

Global growth expected to slow to 2.6% through 2026

The projections push growth further below the pre-pandemic average of 3% and far below the 4.4% average seen before the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

More news

Graph showing that world trade and the global financial cycle move in sync

Over 90% of global trade now depends on finance, reshaping opportunities and deepening vulnerabilities

Mining workers in Sierra Leone.

Unlocking value: Helping African economies diversify beyond raw minerals

Lithium fields in northern Argentina.

Ministers urge global partnership to make critical minerals work for development

Platinum mining in Rustenburg, South Africa.

Commodity dependence runs deep. Developing countries must add value to turn the tide

A partnership agreement between UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Japan was inked on 16 May in Geneva.

UN Trade and Development and Japan partner to add value to Africa’s critical minerals sector

Latest publications

The State of Commodity Dependence 2025

The State of Commodity Dependence 2025

Cover for Trends in natural and man-made fibres trade

Trends in natural and man-made fibres trade

Cover for Global Trade Update (May 2025): Focus on critical minerals – copper in the new green and digital economy

Global Trade Update (May 2025): Focus on critical minerals – copper in the new green and digital economy

Cover for Changing battery chemistries and implications for critical minerals supply chains

Changing battery chemistries and implications for critical minerals supply chains

Cover for Uncovering Suape's potential: Strategic pathways to economic complexity and global competitiveness

Uncovering Suape's potential: Strategic pathways to economic complexity and global competitiveness

More publications

Featured series

Cover of Commodities and Development Report 2023

Commodities and Development Report (Series)

Cover of Commodities at a glance: Special issue on phosphate

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

Critical minerals: First missions to Zambia focuses on value addition and diversification

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

19 February 2026

Report launch: Unlocking value addition and economic diversification through critical energy transition minerals in Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia

17 February 2026

Report launch: Unlocking value addition and economic diversification through critical energy transition minerals in Zambia

13 February 2026

United Nations Cocoa Conference 2026

Geneva, Switzerland

26 January – 6 February 2026

From the valorization of critical minerals to the economy of tomorrow: strategic options and future policies in Madagascar

Antananarivo, Madagascar

9 – 10 December 2025

Multi-year Expert Meeting on Commodities and Development, 16th session

Geneva, Switzerland

3 – 5 November 2025

2025 Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development

All meetings and events

Documents

29 Sep 2025

Strategic diversification for commodity-dependent developing countries

English Français Español العربية 简体中文 Русский

21 Jul 2025

The State of Commodity Dependence 2025

09 Jul 2025

Report of the UN Secretary-General: World commodity trends and prospects (2025)

English Français Español العربية 简体中文 Русский

01 Jul 2025

Trends in natural and man-made fibres trade

01 May 2025

Global Trade Update (May 2025)

14 Apr 2025

Changing battery chemistries and implications for critical minerals supply chains

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