Infrastructure trade will grow by 9% a year until 2030, making it the biggest growth area for international trade, according to a recent report from HSBC.

“Infrastructure-related trade will account for 45% of global trade in goods in 2013. And it is set to expand further as economies and businesses invest in their productive capacity,” the report outlines.

It will also outpace overall merchandise trade growth of 8% per annum so that, by 2030, it will account for 54% of total goods traded globally, it adds.

Infrastructure trade is broken down into the intermediate goods required for infrastructure projects, and the investment equipment needed for businesses to boost production.

The geographical focus of infrastructure trade is also likely to change, with India pushing the US out of its position as the number one importer of intermediate infrastructure goods while China will do the same for equipment goods.

The rest of Asia will also see major growth with Malaysia, Korea and Vietnam all expanding their market share.

China will remain the largest exporter of both types of infrastructure goods throughout the forecast period, but India will become the third-largest exporter of intermediate goods by 2030, up from 11th this year.

In the short-term, however, emerging market growth will be slower than expected. Chinese growth expectations have slipped but it still remains the most promising region for trade in the next six months, the report says.

In the long-term, Asia is expected to see the fastest growth and more advanced economies such as Europe and the US are going to have to invest in their infrastructure in order to remain competitive.