Europe accounts for half of global chemical exports and more than a third of imports, but over the past two decades, structural change has lifted China and the U.S.
Export growth is now concentrated in fast-industrialising Asia, infrastructure-heavy Middle Eastern economies and new manufacturing hubs in Eastern Europe.
Since 1948, global merchandise trade has shifted decisively away from the Atlantic economies toward Asia.
Among the 20 largest net migration gainers, outcomes diverged sharply: large economies absorbed the largest inflows; smaller Gulf states saw far faster growth.
Europe’s scale and diversified demand make it a stabilising force in China’s export landscape, with steady export growth over the past decade.
As China’s export growth becomes more concentrated, a limited number of high-growth segments are combining rapid expansion with meaningful export scale.
