The Long Shift in Global Trade Since 1948 and China’s Rise
Since 1948, global merchandise trade has shifted decisively away from the Atlantic economies toward Asia.
Since 1948, global merchandise trade has shifted decisively away from the Atlantic economies toward Asia.
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.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are driving China’s export growth, accelerating overseas market penetration and compressing the response time available to legacy auto exporters.
China dominates every stage of solar PV manufacturing, yet export revenues are increasingly exposed to global pricing cycles rather than to volume growth.
The top of the global trade landscape separates into economies defined by scale and momentum.
ANDAMAN PARTNERS outlines, unpacks and unravels some of the broad shifts and finer intricacies of China’s economic development and transition in 2026.
Export growth in emerging markets beyond China is concentrating among a small group of mid-scale exporters outpacing global trade.
ASEAN has almost doubled its trade since 2010 and has strengthened ties with China and the U.S., cementing the bloc’s position as an East-West trading nexus.
ASEAN’s trade has surged to nearly USD 4 trillion in 2024 while developing a uniquely balanced structure.