World economic growth to slow to 2.6% in 2026, UN trade body says
UNCTAD said an energy shock and AI market concentration are raising risks even as trade is forecast to grow 4% after a $35 trillion record in 2025.
- On Friday, UNCTAD reported that global economic growth will likely slow to 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.9% last year, amid headwinds from Trump tariffs and conflict.
- Driven by the energy shock from the Middle East crisis, the United Nations agency cited this as the primary driver of the slowdown in global economic activity.
- Asia is projected to contribute 59% of global economic growth in 2026, with India expanding at 7.3%, China by 4.5%, and Indonesia by 5.2%.
- Global trade in goods and services reached a record $35 trillion in 2025 and is expected to expand by 4%, though UNCTAD noted export controls make strategic sectors harder to access.
- The International Monetary Fund forecasts 3% growth while The World Bank projects 2.5%, with both flagging the Iran war, trade fragmentation, and AI-related corrections as key risks.
37 Articles
37 Articles
The global economy is set to slow to 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025, as high energy prices and the Middle East conflict continue to weigh on economic activity, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in its Trade and Development Report 2026, published today, 9 October. Despite the slowdown, international trade is showing resilience. Global trade in goods and services is expected to grow by around 4% in real ter…
Today, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) weighted a slowdown in world economic growth to 2.6% this year in 2026, down from 2.9% last year.
World growth to slow to 2.6% in 2026 as Middle East crisis hits global economy
UNCTAD said global growth could slow to 2.6% in 2026 as the Middle East crisis drives an energy shock. The report also highlighted Asia's growth role, shifting trade flows and AI-linked market risks.
World economic growth to slow to 2.6% in 2026, UN trade body says
Developing economies face sharper slowdown as growth slips to 4% in 2026
United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned of a sharper slowdown in the global economy in its Trade and Development Report 2026. Global growth is projected to ease to 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.9% last year, while growth across developing economies is expected to decelerate to 4.0% from 4.7% in 2025. The report […]
BrandEconomy » BUSINESS » UNCTAD Cuts 2026 Global Growth to 2.6% as AI, Debt and Geopolitics Widen Development
UNCTAD expects global growth to slow to 2.6 per cent in 2026 as geopolitical tensions, energy shocks and financial instability intensify. But the deeper concern is that advanced technology, affordable finance and high-value production are becoming increasingly concentrated, leaving poorer countries with fewer routes to prosperity.
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