Scale and dynamics of the trade today

Source: 2005 data from Engler, based on UN Statistics Division Commodity Trade Statistics Database; 1995 data from Iqbal (1995)The trade in wild plants and animals and their parts and derivatives is big business. The international component of the trade alone has been estimated by TRAFFIC to have been worth USD300 billion in 2005. Hundreds of millions of plants and animals are traded every year. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and ornamental plants to a vast array of wildlife products and derivatives, such as fish and other food products, exotic leather goods, musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines, which can be found in markets around the globe.

As part of the global economy, international wildlife trade patterns in the early 21st century are shifting away from what had been a predominant South to North flow into US and EU markets from biodiverse developing countries. This flow is increasingly matched, or exceeded by that into rapidly developing economies, particularly that of China where wildlife commodities are highly valued in food, medicine and curio trades and in processing industries fuelling re-exports of timber products in particular. Increasing trade to China is a key driver of change within the vast majority of wildlife trade sectors around the globe, though other fast-developing economies, such as those of India, Russia and Brazil, are also shaping new trade trends. Furthermore, the international trade is often matched or exceeded by domestic consumption of wildlife products, such as wild meat, plant medicines and timber.

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