GENEVA - The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday that global goods trade posted an uptick in early 2025, but forecast weaker trade growth later this year.

The WTO's latest Goods Trade Barometer, a composite leading indicator for global merchandise trade, rose to 103.5 from 102.8 in March. The rise was driven by importers frontloading purchases ahead of anticipated higher tariffs, the WTO said.

Barometer values above 100 indicate above-trend trade volumes, while values below 100 suggest that goods trade has either fallen below trend or is likely to decline in the near future.

READ MORE: WTO reports steady goods trade in early 2025, warns of uncertainty

However, the forward-looking new export orders index fell to 97.9, pointing to weaker trade growth later in the year, the WTO said.

The WTO has forecast a basically flat growth in global merchandise trade at 0.1 percent, after the US tariff policy uncertainty and subsequent developments had caused fluctuations in the forecast.

READ MORE: World merchandise trade expected to decline by 0.2% in 2025, says WTO

The WTO warned of possible trade contraction if US "reciprocal tariffs" are reinstated or if trade policy uncertainty spreads globally.