Product intelligence · HS 271600 · 2024 data

Electrical energy

Global exports of electrical energy totalled $63,466,981,612 in 2024, a -17.4% change from the previous year. Traded by 123 countries across 853 bilateral corridors, with demand from 162 importing markets. The long-term trend is stable.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$63.5B

-17.4% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

-2.4%

5Y: +12.7%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.042

Volatility

Low

Score 32/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, electrical energy trade exhibited significant decline, with global flows reaching $63,466,981,612 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of -2.4% (five-year: +12.7%). The all-time peak of $130,532,100,318 was recorded in 2022; the current level is 51% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 55% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a mildly upward trajectory with periodic contractions. Trend momentum is decelerating (-8.3% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies electrical energy as "Two-way trade" in the unclassified price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.042). The three largest exporters — France ($7.9B), Germany ($5.6B), and Switzerland ($4.3B) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at -4.6% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.038). The three largest import markets are Germany ($6.9B), Italy ($5.4B), and Hungary ($3.6B). The largest importing market sources from 27 different supplying countries.

The dominant trade corridor is Switzerland → Italy at $2.4B, representing 45.0% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for electrical energy is 32 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are moderately variable, typical for goods with seasonal or cyclical demand patterns.

For market entrants, contracting demand signals caution before committing resources. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $130,532,100,318 in 2022. Currently 51% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$31,577,818,559-11.6%
2016$27,929,033,324-11.6%
2017$32,363,137,449+15.9%
2018$37,286,128,439+15.2%
2019$34,856,382,355-6.5%
2020$30,054,331,056-13.8%
2021$68,188,877,405+126.9%
2022$130,532,100,318+91.4%
2023$76,854,334,850-41.1%
2024$63,466,981,612-17.4%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of electrical energy in 2024.

View all 123 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for electrical energy.

View all 162 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for electrical energy, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1SwitzerlandItaly$2.4B+21.8%
2CanadaUnited States$2.3B-5.1%
3LaosThailand$2.1B+7.0%
4FranceItaly$1.8B-8.1%
5SlovakiaHungary$1.7B+6.0%
6FranceGermany$1.5B+25.1%
7FranceUnited Kingdom$1.5B-5.6%
8FranceSwitzerland$1.2B-14.6%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.