Weekly Tradecast News Today

Demand for critical energy transition minerals like lithium, cobalt and copper could increase almost fourfold by 2030.Many developing countries have a wealth of these minerals but lack the processing capabilities needed to add value.Commodity dependence affects 66% of small island developing states, 83% of least developed countries and 85% of landlocked developing countries.As the climate emergency intensifies, demand is surging for minerals that are critical for renewable energy technologies li...

Recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have severely affected shipping through the Suez Canal, adding to existing geopolitical and climate-related challenges facing global trade and supply chains, UNCTAD says in a new report released on 22 February. The Red Sea crisis compounds the ongoing disruptions in the Black Sea due to the war in Ukraine, which have resulted in shifts in oil and grain trade routes and altered established patterns.

Recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have severely affected shipping through the Suez Canal, adding to existing geopolitical and climate-related challenges facing global trade and supply chains, UNCTAD says in a new report released on 22 February. The Red Sea crisis compounds the ongoing disruptions in the Black Sea due to the war in Ukraine, which have resulted in shifts in oil and grain trade routes and altered established patterns.

UNCTAD released on 31 January a report on the social and economic deterioration in Gaza since the beginning of the military operation after 7 October 2023. The report quantifies GDP loss, recovery timelines and the enduring effects on poverty and household expenditure, painting a daunting picture of the development challenges ahead.

In this special episode of the Weekly Tradecast, we’re looking back at some of our most popular podcasts over 2023 and the many challenges they address. 

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned of a stalling global economy, with growth slowing in most regions from last year and only a few countries bucking the trend. In its Trade and Development Report 2023, the organization calls for a change in policy direction, including by leading central banks, and accompanying institutional reforms promised during the COVID-19 crisis to avert a lost decade.

Despite a 0.4% contraction in total maritime trade volumes in 2022, the industry anticipates a 2.4% growth in 2023

The Newsroom is a password-protected site for journalists accredited with UNCTAD.

Green technologies – those used to produce goods and services with smaller carbon footprints – are growing and providing increasing economic opportunities but many developing countries could miss them unless national governments and the international community take decisive action.

As the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, Menatallah Elserafy from Egypt and Fresthel Climacosa from the Philippines are working to break the glass ceiling in their scientific fields. Ms. Elserafy, an assistant professor and researcher at the Centre for Genomics at the Zuwail City of Science and Technology in Egypt, focuses on DNA repair mechanisms.