Tonnes of 'Virtual' Water Traded
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Annual Virtual Water Trade
Per Second Rate
Share of Water Use
Understanding Tonnes of 'Virtual' Water Traded
This counter tracks the volume of 'virtual water' - the water embedded in the production of goods and services - that is traded internationally. Virtual water represents the hidden flow of water in food and other commodities traded from one place to another, fundamentally reshaping how we understand global water resources.
Approximately 20% of water used in global food production is traded virtually rather than consumed domestically. This massive flow of embedded water allows water-scarce countries to effectively import water through food and other products, offsetting local water deficits.
The virtual water trade is dominated by agricultural products, with livestock products, wheat, maize, soybean, oil palm, coffee, and cocoa contributing over 70% of total virtual water trade. The volume of virtual water traded has increased 2.9 times from 1986 to 2022, reflecting growing global interconnectedness.
Global Virtual Water Trade Overview
- China has become the world's largest virtual water importer, while the United States, Netherlands, Germany, and India together account for 34% of global virtual water trade. The patterns of trade often flow from water-abundant to water-scarce regions, though not always sustainably.
- Research projections indicate that virtual water trade could triple by 2100, with green water (rainwater) exports potentially exceeding 3,200 billion cubic meters and blue water (irrigation) exports reaching 170 billion cubic meters annually under current trajectories.
- Critically, 39% of virtual water is exported from countries with higher water scarcity than the importing country, indicating economically driven but environmentally unsustainable trade patterns. This includes flows from water-stressed regions in low-income countries to water-abundant high-income nations.
- Virtual water trade in agricultural products saves an estimated 350 billion cubic meters of water annually through comparative advantage, as products are grown in water-efficient locations. However, 16% of unsustainable water use and 11% of global groundwater depletion are virtually traded.
Virtual Water Trade Terminology
- Virtual Water: Volume of water used to produce a product, measured at the place of production
- Water Footprint: Total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed
- Green Virtual Water: Rainwater consumed in production, mainly in agriculture
- Blue Virtual Water: Surface and groundwater consumed in production processes
Major Virtual Water Flows (2025)
- Wheat: 215 billion m³ (9.3%)
- Rice: 188 billion m³ (8.2%)
- Maize: 253 billion m³ (11%)
- Soybeans: 276 billion m³ (12%)
- Beef: 368 billion m³ (16%)
- Other livestock: 230 billion m³ (10%)
Top Virtual Water Trading Countries
- USA: Net exporter of 162 billion m³
- Brazil: Net exporter of 145 billion m³
- Argentina: Net exporter of 89 billion m³
- China: Net importer of 121 billion m³
- Japan: Net importer of 98 billion m³
- Mexico: Net importer of 65 billion m³
Water Savings and Impacts
- Global water savings: 350 billion m³ annually
- But 39% exported from water-stressed regions
- 16% of unsustainable water use is traded
- 11% of groundwater depletion is exported
- Could triple by 2100 due to climate change
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Virtual water trade calculations are based on water footprint assessments of traded agricultural and industrial products, using data from FAO trade statistics and water footprint databases including CWASI and Water Footprint Network datasets.
The real-time counter applies a trade rate of 72,913 cubic meters per second based on annual virtual water trade of approximately 2.3 trillion cubic meters, reflecting continuous global trade flows and seasonal agricultural trade patterns.