UNCTAD: Sustainable Ocean Economy Valued at $2.2 Trillion, Faces Climate and Financial Threats

A Global Trade Update released by UNCTAD in June 2025 highlighted the significant economic value of the sustainable ocean economy, with global ocean trade reaching $2.2 trillion in 2023, approximately 7% of total world trade. Services, led by tourism ($725 billion), accounted for $1.3 trillion, while goods contributed $900 billion. The report noted that the ocean economy grew 2.5 times between 1995 and 2020, outpacing overall global economic growth, and currently supports the livelihoods of around 600 million people and 100 million jobs. 

Key trends include a shift towards aquaculture, which now constitutes over half of aquatic animal production due to pressures on wild fish stocks, and a growing demand for sustainable marine materials. Despite its economic importance, the ocean economy faces severe threats from climate shocks, rising sea levels, pollution, biodiversity loss, and new U.S. tariffs on fisheries imports. A critical concern raised is the stark mismatch between the ocean's economic value and protective investment, with ocean-related aid in 2022 amounting to only $2.4 billion. 

In response, UNCTAD called for stronger ocean economic governance, improved data collection, investment in climate-adaptive infrastructure, and proposed a $2.8 trillion "Blue Deal" to fund initiatives such as mangrove conservation, decarbonization of shipping and fisheries, sustainable ocean-based production, and coastal and offshore wind energy.  

Source: UN Trade & Development