Asian trade corridors to outpace global average by 2030 but threats to supply chain resilience remain, new report finds

• Global goods trade predicted to hit USD32.6tn in the next decade, with Asia, Africa and the Middle East driving 44 per cent of exports
• Business leaders highlight top five potential disruptions to global supply chains
• Digital supply chain finance solutions could uplift exports by USD791bn in 13 markets

New research by Standard Chartered reveals trade corridors in Asia, Africa and the Middle East are set to outpace the global growth rate by close to four percentage points, driving export volumes in these regions from USD9tn in 2021 to USD14.4tn by 2030. Global trade over the same period is set to reach USD32.6tn, from USD21tn in 2021, according to the report titled Future of Trade 2030: New growth corridors.

Thirteen key markets are expected to account for 73 per cent of all exports and 69 per cent of all imports in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East by 2030, with a combined total trade value of USD19.7tn, based on analysis of historical trade data and projections until 2030. Mainland China, India and South Korea top the list by volume.

Simon Cooper, CEO of Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking and CEO, Europe and Americas, Standard Chartered, said: “Global trade continues to present growth opportunities within and across some of the world’s most dynamic regions. This research underlines how businesses are diversifying their sourcing and manufacturing decisions and offers practical insights into how this is playing out around the globe. In particular, the adoption of digital supply chain finance solutions could have a game-changing impact on export growth.”

International trade is projected to move away from the west, shifting southward and outward. South Asia will be the fastest growing export region, driven by strong trade ties with neighbouring regions, including a recent free trade agreement between India and the UAE and Bangladesh’s plans to establish more than 100 special economic zones by 2030.

Standard Chartered surveyed over 100 C-suite and senior leaders from global companies to understand the key drivers of trade growth, as well as the challenges they face. The research revealed the top five concerns of business leaders as being rising geopolitical conflicts and tensions (54 per cent); high and volatile energy and commodity prices (52 per cent); poor infrastructure quality (46 per cent); high inflation (45 per cent); and sanctions, tariffs and export bans (44 per cent).

Using this data and lessons learned from our 2021 report, Standard Chartered introduces a response framework that focusses on three areas:

• Rebalance – diversify risks through supply chain reconfigurations
• Technology in operation – increase reliability, transparency and resilience
• Sustainable trade – enable end-to-end ESG compliant supply chains

These areas, supported by a combination of ten initiatives, give businesses the tools to effectively formulate a well-rounded strategy to deal with the rapidly changing currents of trade and navigate new and emerging trade flows.

One such tool is the adoption of digital supply chain finance (SCF) solutions which offer wide-ranging benefits from better visibility of capital flows and tracking of ESG commitments, to greater SME participation and increasing trade. Research reveals SCF solutions could boost exports by USD791bn by 2030 across 13 key markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, having the potential to help bridge the global trade finance gap that the Asian Development Bank estimated topped USD2tn by 2022.

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Future of Trade 2030: New growth corridors

The report, prepared by PwC Singapore, provides a view on global trade over the next decade and identifies high growth corridors in Asia, Africa and the Middle East as well as 13 key markets that will define the way ahead. The study is based on qualitative and quantitative analysis from various sources, including historical trade data and trade projections until 2030. All trade figures used in this report are for trade of goods only and do not include trade in services.

The research includes a survey of 105 C-suite and senior leaders from corporations globally was conducted to understand the key drivers of trade growth in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the disruptions their businesses face in conducting trade, the initiatives they are implementing to overcome the disruptions, and how digital supply chain finance solutions could transform trade in the coming years. Find out more here.

Standard Chartered

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