The global ocean economy has expanded to USD 2.5 trillion in 2025, with services now forming the dominant share of ocean-related trade, even as United Nations-linked experts warn that environmental pressures are increasingly constraining long-term growth.
According to figures presented during a briefing on World Ocean Day, ocean services account for 58.9% of total ocean trade, up from 47.8% in 2020, marking a significant structural shift in the sector. Ocean services alone are now valued at USD 1.44 trillion, an increase of USD 1.2 trillion since 2020 and exceeding the total value of global ocean trade recorded in 2020.
The data further shows that ocean services have grown by USD 476 billion since 2015, representing a 49.5% increase from the USD 961 billion recorded at that time. The expansion reflects broad recovery and acceleration across maritime sectors following disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Rafael González Quiroz, co-director of the United Nations World Ocean Assessment and director of Spain’s Oceanographic Center of Gijón (IEO-CSIC), said during the briefing that ocean-linked industries are expanding across aquaculture, tourism, and shipping, but warned that this growth is increasingly tied to environmental limitations. The assessment, developed through contributions from more than 650 experts, is designed to provide a scientific foundation for governments and policymakers on ocean governance, integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
Quiroz stated that marine and coastal tourism has experienced a sharp rebound since 2020, now accounting for 32% of global ocean trade, up from 16% in 2020. This segment alone is valued at approximately USD 785 billion, representing more than half of total ocean services trade. Maritime freight transport remains the second-largest component, valued at about USD 487 billion, or roughly 20% of total ocean trade.
“The ocean economy is expanding rapidly across sectors such as aquaculture, tourism, and shipping. While this growth is vital for food security, employment, and economic development, it’s increasingly constrained by the declining health of the ocean,” Quiroz said, adding that a sustainable ocean economy depends on a “healthy and resilient ocean.”
Environmental pressures were highlighted as a central concern, particularly marine plastic pollution. Global estimates cited during the briefing indicate that only 10% of plastics are recycled, while around 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean annually. The United Nations reports that this pollution is affecting at least 4,000 marine species.
Efforts to address the issue have centered on negotiations for a global plastics treaty under the framework of the United Nations, aimed at capping plastic production and establishing waste management and recycling requirements. The proposed agreement also seeks to support the development of sustainable alternatives in a plastics industry valued at around USD 1.1 trillion.
Trade policy imbalances were also highlighted in analysis from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which stated that uneven tariff structures continue to shape global plastics markets. According to the report, tariffs on plastics have declined from 34% to 7.2% over the past three decades, while tariffs on alternative materials such as bamboo, natural fibers, paper, and seaweed have doubled to 14.4%, contributing to cost advantages for conventional plastics.
Recent volatility in global energy markets, linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, has further influenced production costs. UNCTAD reports indicate that because plastics are approximately 98% derived from fossil fuels, prices in European markets have risen by 70–80%, potentially shifting competitiveness toward lower-impact alternatives.
The briefing also emphasized the role of the broader scientific assessment led through the United Nations system, with the ocean economy’s trajectory increasingly framed against both its economic expansion and mounting environmental constraints, as documented by United Nations-linked experts and institutions.
