Fastest Growing Industries by Imports Global in 2025

1. Global Biotechnology

Growth in Imports for 2025: 4.7%

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

2. Global Heavy-Duty Truck Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 4.6%

The Global Heavy-Duty Truck Manufacturing industry has experienced an eventful time over the past five years. Governments across the globe have imposed new regulations aimed at reducing truck emissions. Truck prices typically increase when new standards are introduced due to higher research and development costs to make truck emissions compliant. Truck buyers are aware of this trend, and when legislation change is announced, buyers tend to purchase vehicles in anticipation of rising prices once the new law is implemented.

Despite rising regulations, the industry grew before the pandemic due to growth in emerging economies such as China and India. But the... Learn More

3. Global Cardboard Box & Container Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 3.8%

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

4. Global Cosmetics Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 3.5%

Global cosmetic manufacturers faced troubles during the period. This industry provides a wide array of products; a good deal of these products are non-discretionary, which partly shielded manufacturers from major disruptions seen in 2020 during COVID-19. However, product lines like fragrances, parts of skincare and makeup are fully discretionary. As the disruptions ran their course, consumers spent less and remained at home to stop the spread of the virus. Because of this, demand for discretionary products plummeted, leaving a huge glut in demand within the market. In more recent years, a return of consumer spending and disposable income has led... Learn More

5. Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 3.3%

The Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing industry is responsible for manufacturing, rebuilding, and servicing aircraft for the commercial market. Included in commercial aircraft are planes, helicopters, aircraft engines and various aircraft components and subsystems for the commercial market. COVID-19 was the biggest roadblock for operators during the period, leading to a drop in sales, tough supply chain conditions, and a lack of demand. Still, a partial recovery was achieved during the years following due to economic upturn and global efforts to control the virus. As a result, the Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing industry's revenue is set to fall an annualized CAGR... Learn More

6. Global Automobile Engine & Parts Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 2.8%

Revenue for the Global Automobile Engine and Parts Manufacturing industry, which produces motor vehicle engines and other engine parts such as valves, crankshafts, camshafts, fuel injectors and pistons, is expected to fall an annualized 3.9% to $324.2 billion over the past five years, including an expected 3.4% surge in 2023 alone. Ultimately, the industry is tethered to global car production, thus leaving automobile engine and part manufacturers vulnerable to a myriad of macroeconomic and political factors that affect the automotive sector in aggregate. Before COVID-19, an emphasis on engine efficiency and economic growth supported industry expansion. However, COVID-19 brought industry... Learn More

7. Global Milk & Cream Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 2.8%

Solid economic growth in the growing economies of Asia and South America, alongside rising global per capita income, has led to consistent growth in global demand for milk and dairy products. Even amid the outbreak of COVID-19, production climbed. Rising input costs forced manufacturers to hike prices, contributing to considerable revenue growth. While milk prices have increased, profit has only inched up because of rising input costs. Industry-wide revenue has been growing at a CAGR of 7.2% over the past five years and is expected to total $889.4 billion in 2023, when revenue will drop by an estimated 4.9%.

China and... Learn More

8. Global Paper & Pulp Mills

Growth in Imports for 2025: 2.5%

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

9. Global Military Shipbuilding & Submarines

Growth in Imports for 2025: 2.4%

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

10. Global Pharmaceuticals & Medicine Manufacturing

Growth in Imports for 2025: 2.3%

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have benefited from an aging population in developed economies and a growing middle class in emerging economies, which has provided a larger customer base for companies in the Global Pharmaceuticals and Medicine Manufacturing industry. Many manufacturers have also tapped into regional demand for pharmaceuticals that may differ from developed markets and have expanded their global presence to tap into regional market needs and develop relationships with government entities that can accelerate drug approval or implement high reimbursement rates. The outbreak of COVID-19 presented drug manufacturers with new opportunities; however, only very few drug manufacturers were able to participate... Learn More