Fastest Growing Industries by Imports Global in 2024

1. Global Military Shipbuilding & Submarines

Growth in Imports for 2024: 12.2%

The Global Military Shipbuilding and Submarines industry has continued to expand amid rising geopolitical tensions. The US, other Western governments and Asian countries continue to be the largest markets for military shipbuilders. Despite the pandemic's effects, revenue has remained steady, as contracts were already placed beforehand.

The United States, the largest market for the industry, has increased spending on shipbuilding and conversion as it has sought to maintain its ability to project power abroad, protect trade lanes and defend allies. Meanwhile, some of the biggest surges in naval expenditures have come from developing nations (China, Russia, India and East Asian countries).... Learn More

2. Global Biotechnology

Growth in Imports for 2024: 9.6%

Explosive growth in biotechnology in recent years can't be understated. What's fueling this rapid growth varies, as biotech's applications range from healthcare and agriculture to energy. COVID-19 brought more attention to biotechnology, as biotech companies were central to vaccine development and reopening the economy. Biotech's potential to develop vaccines shifted the industry's trajectory, with investment reaching unprecedented levels globally and spurring more start-up activity than ever. Sky-high investment began settling in 2022, as higher interest rates moved risk-averse investors away from early-stage companies into established companies with a higher likelihood of return. Investor uncertainty continued into 2023, with high interest... Learn More

3. Global Paper & Pulp Mills

Growth in Imports for 2024: 8.2%

The digitization of the global economy and expanding internet usage have reduced demand for newsprint and other traditional paper products, curbing growth for the Global Paper and Pulp Mills industry over the past five years. Still, mills have benefited from expanding developing economies in Asia and South America. Over the past five years, consumer spending and online retail growth have supported demand for packaging paper, offsetting declines from traditional paper segments. Revenue has stagnated over the past five years, staying at an estimated $492.1 billion in 2023. Inflationary pressures will push revenue down by an estimated 2.2% in 2023 alone.

While... Learn More

4. Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 8.1%

Over the five years to 2023, the industry has benefited from growth in global consumer spending and world GDP. Growing consumer spending led to expanding downstream markets, including manufacturing, retail and wholesale businesses. In addition, rising demand from emerging markets, such as China and India, has boosted demand for cardboard containers. But strong fluctuations in the world price of wood pulp have hampered revenue growth in specific years. However, supply chain disruptions during and following the COVID-19 pandemic caused prices to increase and revenue to surge. Altogether, industry revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% to $458.3... Learn More

5. Global Auto Parts & Accessories Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 7.6%

Revenue for the Global Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturing industry has decreased at a CAGR of 6.3% over the past five years – including stagnating in 2023 alone – and is expected to total $1.9 trillion in 2023, when profit is set to drop to 5.3%. The auto parts aftermarket has helped generate revenue as average vehicle ages have increased. Demand for this segment tends to rise with the number of vehicles in use, and therefore, as more individuals take to the roads, demand for replacement parts increases.

The problems with the global supply chain due to COVID-19 deeply affected industry... Learn More

6. Global Fruit & Vegetable Processing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 7.4%

Global fruit and vegetable processors have steadily grown as a result of favorable consumer trends across the world. The growth in global disposable income has driven demand toward healthier and more convenient processed foods in developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where consumer trends have been slightly shifting. But unlike the case for developed countries, this income growth has fomented demand for processed foods in developing countries such as China. The industrialization of the industry in these countries has also improved distribution and production capacity to the benefit of the global industry. Overall, the industry... Learn More

7. Global Military Aircraft & Aerospace Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 7.4%

The Global Military Aircraft and Aerospace Manufacturing industry has continued to expand amid rising geopolitical tensions. The United States, other Western governments and Asian countries remain the largest markets for defense contractors. Countries continue to bolster their defenses by purchasing more military aircraft, missiles, satellites, radars and avionics. Overall, revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 0.4% to $316.6 billion over the five years to 2023, including a 1.5% in 2023 alone as profit creeps downward to 7.3%, barring supply chain disruptions. Non-Western countries have increased spending on defense.

Emerging economies have allowed more nations to spend on military... Learn More

8. Global Coal Mining

Growth in Imports for 2024: 7.2%

Coal mined by global coal mining companies plays a vital role in the world's ability to generate electricity and manufacture steel. Coal's position in global electricity markets stems from its relative accessibility, affordability and distribution across the globe. The world's largest coal producers are China, the United States and India, with these countries expected to retain their positions for the foreseeable future. Global coal mining revenue is a function of global production of coal mined products alongside global coal prices, with prices being closely tied to global economic conditions. Over the five years to 2023, prices of thermal and coking... Learn More

9. Global Handbag & Purse Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 5.9%

Demand for global handbag manufacturers has decreased throughout 2023, as uncertain macroeconomic conditions have caused demand for industry goods to fall. For instance, since the industry's products are considered discretionary goods, consumers will likely be more reluctant to purchase goods during periods of economic uncertainty. Overall, industry revenue has been declining at a CAGR of 2.3% over the past five years, and is expected to total $161.6 billion in 2023, when revenue will rise an estimated 0.9%. As a result of the pandemic, the prices of many key raw materials have increased, subsequently causing industry profit to decrease.

Asia and Europe... Learn More

10. Global Apparel Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2024: 5.9%

Global apparel manufacturers have benefited from strengthening consumer spending in developed economies combined with rapidly growing emerging economies in recent years. However, sudden changes in how consumers shopped worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic shifted its trajectory. Dips in global consumer spending and lockdowns dropped production at factories. Even as economies reopened, bottlenecks and supply chain woes punctured footwear production globally, while rising costs for everything from cotton to crude oil shot up production costs. Uneven economic recoveries, recession concerns and inflation continue to strain performance despite surging consumer demand. In all, industry-wide revenue has been declining at a CAGR of... Learn More