Transport, logistics and trade facilitation

We support countries in implementing sustainable and resilient freight transportation and logistics services to enhance trade.

Customs automation - ASYCUDA

Transport infrastructure and services

Trade facilitation

Transport policy and legislation

Review of Maritime Transport

The Review of Maritime Transport has been published annually since 1968. This flagship report provides an analysis of structural and cyclical changes affecting seaborne trade, ports and shipping, as well as an extensive collection of statistics.

Over 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries.

E-learning for NTFCs

News

Rebeca Grynspan at the Global Maritime Forum

World needs maritime trade to brave rough seas of crises, UNCTAD chief says

Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan calls on the shipping industry to help get food and fertilizers from the Black Sea to global markets.

22 Sep 2022

A vessel transports grain from Ukraine under the Black Sea Grain Initiative

Black Sea Grain Initiative helps stabilize global food markets

The deal to export foodstuffs from Ukraine has helped bring down the prices of grains, cereals and oils.

12 Sep 2022

How digital connectivity facilitates inclusive global trade

New report shows how UNCTAD’s customs automation programme, ASYCUDA, helps developing nations increase customs revenues while reducing the time and cost of trade.

6 Sep 2022

Building resilient maritime logistics in challenging times

UNCTAD launches new tools to help build maritime supply chain resilience by supporting countries to cope with and adapt to disruptions that extend beyond pandemics.

11 Aug 2022

Projects

Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics

Commercialization of the Trans-Saharan Road Corridor

Implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in Central Africa

Sustainable smart ports for African countries

Analysis of maritime connectivity in ASEAN and Pacific small island developing States

Accelerate trade facilitation

The Weekly Tradecast

In this episode of the Weekly Tradecast, Jan Hoffman, head of UNCTAD's trade logistics branch, talks about how the war in Ukraine has compounded severe strains on global supply chains from the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 80% of goods move by sea. Space on ships is tight and the cost to transport a container has soared. Now, with the war in Ukraine, prices are rising for almost everything we consume.

Jan helps us navigate the uncertainties around maritime trade and recommends some solutions.

Featured Event

Multi-year expert meeting on transport, trade logistics and trade facilitation, ninth session

12 - 14 Jul 2022

Recent publications

UNCTAD Port Management Series - Volume 10

ASYCUDA Compendium 2022

Roadmap for building a national trade information portal

Climate-resilience of seaports: Adequate finance is critical for developing countries but remains a major challenge

Maritime Trade Disrupted: The war in Ukraine and its effects on maritime trade logistics

COVID-19 and maritime transport: Navigating the crisis and lessons learned

Transport and trade facilitation newsletter

The UNCTAD Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter is a quarterly bulletin on current topics and projects in trade facilitation and international transport.

Receive the latest updates, with recommendations on publications directly to your email and free of charge.

Transport and Trade Facilitation

The Series includes analytical reports on a wide range of issues in the areas of trade facilitation, international transport, and logistics. It complements the annual Review of Maritime Transport, and the quarterly Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter.

Topics covered in recent years include digitalization of logistics, national trade facilitation committees, shipping, climate change adaptation, road safety, port performance, cabotage, transit, and the relationship between trade facilitation and development.