Despite geopolitical tensions, rising tariffs, and increasing uncertainty about trade policies, globalization continues at historically high levels , according to the Global Connectivity Report 2026 , produced by DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business, which shows that international flows of trade, capital, information, and people remain resilient.
The study—based on more than nine million data points—indicated that the global level of connectivity reached 25% in 2025 , the same record level achieved in 2022. This suggests that, although political and trade barriers persist, countries and companies are largely maintaining their international links.
John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, highlighted that the continued high levels of globalization reflect its importance in addressing global challenges.
“Globalization remains strong, and that alone speaks volumes about its value. The world’s greatest challenges can only be solved through global thinking,” he stated.
The report highlighted that global trade grew in 2025 at its fastest pace since 2017 , excluding the volatile period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of this growth was attributed to the United States bringing forward its imports in anticipation of potential tariff increases.
Furthermore, the rise of artificial intelligence significantly boosted trade. Products related to this technology accounted for 42% of the growth in global merchandise trade in the first three quarters of 2025 , according to data from the World Trade Organization (WTO) .
Looking ahead, the report anticipates that US tariffs could moderate trade growth, but not halt it. Global merchandise trade is projected to grow by an average of 2.6% annually until 2029 , a rate similar to that of the past decade.
The United States and China reduce their trade ties.
One of the most noticeable changes in global dynamics is the gradual decoupling between the United States and China . Trade between the two economies accounted for only 2.0% of global trade during the first three quarters of 2025 , down from 2.7% in 2024 and 3.6% at its peak in 2015.
However, the report highlighted that this reduction has a limited impact on the global landscape. Even with the distancing between these two powers, the world economy shows no signs of splitting into rival trading blocs.
In fact, during the last decade only between 4% and 6% of global trade and investment flows have been diverted from geopolitical rivals , and most have gone to economies with more flexible positions, such as India or Vietnam.
Beyond trade, the report identified mixed trends in other international flows:
- Capital: Global foreign direct investment increased and cross-border mergers and acquisitions remained strong, although announced investment in new facilities fell in 2025.
- Information: Digital flows, which had been the most dynamic engine of globalization, show greater volatility since 2021 due to geopolitical tensions and data restrictions.
- People: After the collapse caused by the pandemic, international travel, student mobility and migration reached new all-time highs.
Record trade distances
Contrary to predictions of regionalization in supply chains, the report highlights that goods traveled the greatest average distance on record in 2025: 5,010 kilometers (km) . Similarly, foreign direct investment projects in new facilities reached a record average distance of 6,250 km .
These figures suggest that, despite geopolitical tensions, companies continue to operate in global networks and have not migrated massively towards regional models.
In the ranking of the most globalized countries, Singapore remains in first place, followed by Luxembourg and the Netherlands . At the regional level, Europe leads the ranking, followed by North America and the Middle East and North Africa .
For its part, Mexico ranked 78th out of 180 economies , with data from 2024. Although its position has not improved since 2019, the country advanced eight places compared to 2023 and registered a slight increase in its score.
The report highlighted that Mexico’s trade pattern reflects its strategic role within North American supply chains . Approximately 87% of its exports go to the United States and Canada , while these countries account for only 41% of its imports , demonstrating a more diversified supply network.
According to the analysis, this role could strengthen as more companies continue to invest in Mexico to diversify their supply chains in the face of dependence on China.
Steven A. Altman, director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern, noted that the political debate about globalization is often more volatile than the economic reality.
“The risks to globalization are real, but so is the resilience of global flows,” he said.
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