Global Trade Surges to $13.7tn as AI and EV Demand Drive Growth

AI and EV demand drive trade expansion

AI-related products and electric-vehicle supply chains were among the strongest contributors to global trade growth.

UNCTAD reported that trade in critical minerals increased by 38% in the first quarter, while semiconductor trade rose 25%. Battery trade increased 15%, ICT goods 14% and electric vehicles 11%.

The figures highlight the growing influence of technology and the energy transition on global manufacturing and trade flows.

For countries with deposits of critical minerals, the expansion creates opportunities to attract investment into mining, processing and related industrial activities.

Trade growth could support industrial investment

The expansion of global goods trade could have implications beyond manufacturing and logistics.

Increased production and international trade typically require additional warehouses, distribution centres, industrial parks, transport infrastructure and commercial facilities.

For emerging markets such as Nigeria, stronger demand for critical minerals and technology-related inputs could create opportunities to attract investment into processing and manufacturing rather than relying primarily on exports of unprocessed commodities.

Infrastructure becomes increasingly important

Higher trade volumes also place greater demands on transportation and logistics infrastructure.

Ports, roads, rail networks, warehouses and industrial corridors need sufficient capacity to move goods efficiently between production centres and international markets.

For Nigeria, improvements in these areas could support industrial property development while making locations with strong transport connectivity more attractive to businesses and investors.

Critical minerals create opportunities for Nigeria

The strong growth in global critical-mineral trade is particularly relevant to Nigeria as the country seeks to develop its solid-minerals sector.

Lithium and other minerals are increasingly important to battery and clean-energy supply chains.

Recent investment activity in Nigeria’s lithium-producing states, including Nasarawa, demonstrates the potential connection between global demand for critical minerals and domestic industrial development.

The key challenge will be moving beyond extraction towards processing and value addition within Nigeria.

Industrial growth could influence property markets

A sustained increase in industrial activity can create secondary demand for real estate.

Mining and processing projects require industrial land, warehouses, offices, worker accommodation and supporting commercial services.

Where major projects attract sustained employment and infrastructure investment, surrounding communities can also experience increased demand for residential and commercial property.

However, this effect depends on actual investment and production rather than trade projections alone.

Nigeria faces an investment challenge

While global trade is expanding, Nigeria still needs to improve its ability to capture a larger share of emerging trade opportunities.

UNCTAD data cited by Nairametrics showed that Nigeria’s foreign direct investment fell to $135.08 million in the first quarter of 2026, from $357.80 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Total capital inflows stood at $10.37 billion, driven largely by portfolio investment and other short-term financial instruments.

This highlights the importance of attracting longer-term investment into productive sectors.

For the property market, stronger FDI into manufacturing, mining, logistics and technology could create more sustainable demand for industrial and commercial real estate.

Outlook

Global trade’s strong first-half performance shows that AI, electric vehicles, semiconductors and critical minerals are reshaping international demand.

For Nigeria, the opportunity lies in using its natural resources, workforce and domestic market to attract investment into processing, manufacturing and logistics.

If successfully converted into productive investment, these trends could support new industrial corridors, logistics infrastructure and related housing and commercial development.

For NHM, however, this should remain a secondary economic-development story, rather than a lead housing-market story.