#News&Insights

DHL Global Connectedness Tracker: 2025 Special Update

Vivien Christel Vella
Vivien Christel Vella
Senior Global Digital Marketing Manager
3 min read
collage of ship, people, and graphs
This article covers
The latest edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker
Key insights on the future of global trade and the best opportunities for your business
The effects of recent tariff news

Looking for a clearer picture of global trade – and what it means for your business? The DHL Global Connectedness Tracker reveals the key trends shaping international markets and investment flows.

DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business have released a special update to the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, offering the first systematic assessment of how international trade and business investment are reacting to shifting U.S. trade policy under President Trump’s second term.

This edition draws on over 20 million data points from more than 25 sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the changing landscape of globalization and global trade. For businesses with international ambitions, it’s an essential resource.

Global growth isn’t guesswork. Get the data-backed perspective your business needs to expand with confidence.

Download Now

Resilience and Realignment: The State of Global Trade in 2025

The latest update paints a nuanced picture of globalization in 2025. Despite rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions, global trade is proving remarkably resilient – growing faster in the first half of the year than in any half-year since 2010 (excluding the pandemic rebound).

Recent tariff news highlights how these hikes have dimmed the trade outlook across most regions, with North America bearing the brunt. However, South & Central America and the Middle East & North Africa have bucked the trend with forecast upgrades. Meanwhile, U.S.–China business ties continue to weaken, yet fears of a major global economic split along geopolitical lines remain largely unfounded.

“Despite all the headwinds, the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker highlights the enduring strength of global trade. Trade barriers do not serve the world’s best interests. But we must never underestimate the creativity of buyers and sellers around the world who want to do business with each other.”

- John Pearson, CEO DHL Express

Key Takeaways

International growth requires informed decisions – and the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker helps make them.  

With interactive online charts, you can explore trends by region, geopolitical alignment, or individual countries – and easily download the data and visuals for offline use. Whether you're planning to enter a new market or navigate uncertainty in your current ones, the Tracker puts valuable global insights right at your fingertips.