McKinsey’s Global Trade Explorer

The following graphics are republished with the permission of McKinsey Global Institute from its Global Trade Explorer, published on 18 October 2023.

What are the most important trade corridors?

The Explorer ranks the bilateral trade flows between major economies. Based on the 2023 global trade data, the US–China corridor remains one of the largest, despite geopolitical tensions. Intra-EU trade dominates due to regional integration, while China–ASEAN continues to expand as supply chains shift within Asia. Emerging corridors, such as China–Latin America and China–Africa, are gaining significance, driven by China’s global investments.

What are the main trade sectors and who are the main trade partners of an economy?

The Explorer highlights the top traded sectors across all economies and presents how much each sector contributes to global trade. Electronics top the charts, driven by demand for semiconductors, smartphones, and computing equipment. Energy, mining, and metals remain crucial for resource-rich economies, while automotive and industrial machinery dominate exports from advanced countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Agriculture and food, though smaller in volume, serve as vital trade links between developed and emerging markets. The tool helps identify globally connected sectors and assess trade exposure across industries.

How has trade between economies evolved over time?

The Explorer also tracks the evolution of trade flows between countries and regions over the past two decades. Global trade has expanded rapidly since 2000, led by growth in electronics, automotive, and energy sectors. Asia has become a dominant player, with countries like China, Vietnam, and India reshaping trade dynamics, particularly in manufacturing and electronics. Emerging markets are gaining ground, gradually reducing the dominance of Western economies in key sectors. A shift toward regionalization is also evident, especially in Asia and North America, as businesses restructure supply chains for resilience and proximity.

How interdependent are two economies?

This feature highlights trade interdependencies across 50 countries and 15 sectors. It measures how much each country relies on another as a trading partner, visualizing bilateral trade intensity. For example, US–China trade remains deeply linked in technology and electronics. China is the top source US imports in areas such as semiconductors, smartphones, and network equipment. Meanwhile, the US exports advanced chips, software, and high-tech machinery to China, although in lower volumes.

Which products are supplied by a number of economies?

The Explorer analyzes how concentrated global exports are for key products, highlighting potential vulnerabilities. It helps identify whether a few countries dominate the global supply of essential goods. For instance, in the case of crude oil a small group of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the US, controls a major share of global exports. Even though the US is a major producer, it still imports crude oil, much of it from a limited number of suppliers, creating potential supply chain and geopolitical vulnerabilities.

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