Unveiled: 2024 ICC Arbitration and ADR preliminary statistics

Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Director of ICC Dispute Resolution Services, said:

“The preliminary figures highlight once more the confidence companies and states place in ICC as their preferred institution for resolving disputes. Staying close to the needs of ICC Arbitration and ADR users worldwide, we remain committed to delivering fair, efficient and transparent services that meet the evolving needs of domestic and international commerce”.

Caseload

In 2024, the number of new cases remained strong, with 831 cases filed under the ICC Arbitration Rules (of which 17 began with Emergency Arbitrator applications) and 10 cases under the ICC Appointing Authority Rules. This is similar to the average caseload of the last five years. In October, ICC reached a milestone when it registered its 29,000th case under the ICC Arbitration Rules. In total 1,789 cases were pending at the end of 2024.

Expedited procedure

In 2024, 152 new cases were administered under the Expedited Procedure Provisions (‘EPP’). The ICC Court has administered a total of 865 cases under the EPP since the procedure was established in 2017.

Parties

A total of 2,392 parties participated in ICC arbitrations in 2024, of which 1,100 were claimants and 1,292 were respondents. Parties originated from 136 jurisdictions, with an increased presence compared to 2023 in North and West Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South and East Asia, and the Pacific.

For new cases, the top 10 countries from which parties originated were the United States (167 parties) followed by Brazil (156), Spain (137), Mexico (106), Italy (101), the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong SAR (98), Germany (85), Türkiye (80), and France and the United Arab Emirates (73 parties each).

A total of 45 states and 143 state-owned entities were involved in 159 cases filed during the year, accounting for 19% of new cases.

Place of arbitration

ICC arbitral tribunals were seated in 107 cities across 62 countries or independent territories on all continents. The top 10 jurisdictions were the United Kingdom (96 cases), France (91), Switzerland (83), the United States (72), the United Arab Emirates (38), Spain (33), Brazil and Mexico (30 each), Singapore (28), and Germany (20).

Amounts in dispute

Amounts in dispute in new cases varied significantly, ranging from just below US$10,000 to US$53 billion. The aggregate amount in dispute for new cases reached US$103 billion, with an average of US$130 million and a median of approximately US$5 million.

With a total of US$354 billion, the aggregate amount in dispute for pending cases sets an all-time record. The corresponding average and median amounts were US$211 million and US$14 million, respectively.

Claudia Salomon, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, said:

“The 2024 statistics underscore the ICC Court’s role as the leading arbitral institution. With so many parties from jurisdictions around the world and a record value of pending cases, it is clear that arbitration remains a vital tool for resolving domestic and cross-border disputes. As we move forward, we continue to prioritise accessibility, efficiency and innovation, ensuring that ICC remains a trusted and effective solution for businesses and States worldwide”.

ICC International Centre for ADR

A total of 61 requests were filed with the ICC ADR Centre in 2024: 37 under ICC Mediation Rules, 20 under the Expert Rules, three under DOCDEX Rules and one under the Dispute Board Rules.

The full 2024 ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics report will be released later this year. ICC DRS statistical reports since 1997 are available on the ICC Dispute Resolution Library (jusmundi.com).

Information presented herewith is subject to verification prior to publication in the complete 2024 annual statistical report.

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