What are the latest arbitration statistics? We have analyzed the statistics of the key institutions for 2024 and bring to you the figures, the developments, and the trends.[1]
The Number of Cases
The overall number of newly initiated cases at the researched institutions has increased from 9,388 in 2023 to 10,067 in 2024. This is a new record case load since we started this research in 2016.
The HKIAC reported that the case load reached new heights. The HKIAC new cases increased from 281 in 2023 to 352 in 2024. The SCC recorded 204 new cases in 2024, which has been the second best year for the SCC so far. Once again, CIETAC reported a remarkable number of new arbitration cases: 6,013 proceedings were initiated there in 2024. This represents a significant increase of 14.82 % compared to the 5,237 cases in 2023. Over the last 9 years, CIETAC has been growing at a remarkable rate. The Swiss Arbitration Centre administered a number of 100 new cases, a slight increase compared to 2023 and also one of the best years in the institution’s history. Likewise, CAM-CCBC registered 9 more cases than in 2023, namely 126 new cases.
However, the number of new cases has decreased in other institutions. In 2024, the ICC administered 841 new cases, compared to 890 cases in 2023. ICSID administered 55 new cases, a slight decrease compared to the 57 new cases in 2023. The LCIA administered 318 new cases, compared to 327 cases in 2023. The SIAC recorded 625 new cases, compared to 663 in 2023. Despite the decrease, 2024 was still SIAC’s third busiest year so far.
Excluding the significant CIETAC figures, the remaining institutions collectively administered 4,054 new cases, compared to 4,151 in 2023.
| Arbitral institution | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) | 841 | 890 | 710 | 853 | 946 | 869 | 842 | 810 | 966 | 801 | 791 | 767 | 759 |
| ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) | 55 | 57 | 41 | 66 | 58 | 39 | 56 | 53 | 48 | 52 | 38 | 40 | 50 |
| SCC (Stockholm Chamber of Commerce) | 204 | 175 | 143 | 165 | 213 | 175 | 152 | 200 | 199 | 181 | 183 | 203 | 177 |
| LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration) | 318 | 327 | 293 | 377 | 440 | 395 | 317 | 285 | 303 | 326 | 300 | 301 | 277 |
| SIAC (Singapore International Arbitration Centre) | 625 | 663 | 357 | 469 | 1080 | 479 | 402 | 452 | 343 | 271 | 222 | 259 | 235 |
| HKIAC (Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre) | 352 | 281 | 344 | 277 | 318 | 308 | 265 | 297 | 262 | 271 | 252 | 260 | 293 |
| CAM-CCBC (Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada) | 126 | 117 | 116 | 128 | 105 | 97 | 101 | 141 | 98 | 112 | 95 | 90 | 64 |
| DIS (German Arbitration Institute) | 158 | 191 | 164 | 133 | 162 | 110 | 153 | 152 | 166 | 134 | 132 | 121 | 125 |
| VIAC (Vienna International Arbitration Centre) | 45 | 52 | 41 | 44 | 40 | 45 | 64 | 43 | 60 | 40 | 56 | 56 | 70 |
| Swiss Arbitration Centre | 100 | 91 | 93 | 86 | 83 | 95 | 81 | 74 | 81 | 96 | 106 | 69 | 92 |
| ICDR (International Centre for Dispute Resolution) | 811 | 848 | 755 | n/a | n/a | 882 | 993 | 1026 | 1050 | 1063 | 1052 | 1165 | 996 |
| CIETAC (China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission) | 6013 | 5237 | 4086 | 4071 | 3615 | 3333 | 2962 | 2298 | 2181 | 1968 | 1610 | 1256 | 1060 |
| PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration) | 51 | 82 | 50 | 205 | 59 | 49 | 56 | 41 | 40 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 27 |
| KCAB (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board) | 349 | 368 | 342 | 500 | 405 | 443 | 393 | 385 | 381 | 413 | 382 | 338 | 360 |
| JCAA (The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association) | 19 | 9 | 19 | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| TOTAL | 10067 | 9388 | 7554 | 7389 | 7524 | 7319 | 6837 | 6257 | 6178 | 5770 | 5258 | 4960 | 4585 |
Additional Data
The proportion of international arbitration cases remains high across most institutions. T The LCIA and SIAC continue to lead, with 95% and 91% of their cases being international arbitrations, respectively. The Swiss Arbitration Centre follows with 89%, while the ICC reports 69%. HKIAC also shows strong international engagement, with 76.4% of all arbitrations and 86.1% of administered arbitrations involving international parties. In contrast, institutions like CAM-CCBC and DIS show a more domestic focus, with 85.6% of CAM-CCBC parties being Brazilian and only 65% of DIS cases involving two German parties.
The amounts in dispute across institutions show a mixed picture. The total amount in dispute in SCC cases increased 397.8% from USD 3.2 billion to USD 15.93 billion. The ICC also saw a significant increase: The total amount in dispute nearly doubled from USD 53 billion in 2023 to USD 102 billion in 2024. This shows that, on average, the amount in dispute increased. CIETAC’s figure increased by around USD 4.5 billion to USD 26.57 billion. Following the trend, the HKIAC’s figure also increased by around USD 1.7 billion. DIS’s figure increased by 62.7% to USD 4.72 billion. VIAC reported an increase from USD 2.1 billion to USD 2.24 billion. In contrast, the total amount in dispute decreased in other institutions, such as CAM CCBC and KCAB. Overall, the amount in dispute remains high, indicating that arbitration proceedings are particularly suitable for large cases.
The number of expedited proceedings decreased compared to 2023: ICDR from 237 to 172; ICC, from 189 to 152. The Swiss Arbitration Centre registered a slight decrease from 43 to 41 expedited cases. Other institutions, like LCIA (15) and CAM-CCBC (21), reported more moderate figures. VIAC reports only 3 expedited arbitration cases. SIAC seems to be the only institution where the number of expedited arbitrations increased significantly.
The number of emergency arbitration applications before the HKIAC significantly decreased from 35 in 2023 to 5 in 2024. Likewise, the ICC registered a decrease from 28 in 2023 to 17 applications in 2024. LCIA reported 4 applications, compared to 6 applications in 2023. SCC registered 4 emergency arbitration applications, the same amount as in 2023. CAM CCBC also reported a low number, namely 3 applications. In contrast, SIAC’s figures increased from 11 applications in 2023 to 21 in 2024.
In terms of arbitrator challenges, the ICC registered a significant drop from 78 challenges in 2023 to 33 in 2024. CIETAC reported the highest number in absolute terms (45), followed by ICDR (37), ICC (33), CAM-CCBC (21), SCC (12), LCIA (10), HKIAC (5), and SIAC (2).
The representation of female arbitrators remains a critical issue. Arbitral institutions have been working towards gender diversity. The number of women appointed by institutions as arbitrators illustrates this commitment: SCC, 57%; ICC, 46%; LCIA, 45%; DIS, 44%. In contrast, party nominations score as low as 13.3% at the DIS. VIAC has also registered a significantly low number of 17%. Because party nominations or nominations by the co-arbitrators of a tribunal are much more frequent than nominations through the institution, the overall percentage of female arbitrators remains significantly below 50%.
| ICC | ICSID | SCC | LCIA | SIAC | ICDR | HKIAC | CAM-CCBC | DIS | VIAC | Swiss Arbitration Centre | CIETAC | PCA | KCAB | JCAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount in dispute | USD 102 billion | n/a | EUR 13.5 billion (USD 15.93 billion) | n/a | USD 11.86 billion | USD 4.8 billion | HKD 106 billion (USD 13.6 billion) | BRL 5.9 billion (USD 1.1 billion) | EUR 4 billion (USD 4.72 billion) | EUR 1,9 billion (USD 2.24 billion) | n/a | RMB 188.96 billion yuan (USD 26.57 billion) | n/a | USD 548 million | n/a |
| International arbitrations | 69% | n/a | 51% | 95% | 91% | n/a | 76.4% of all arbitrations and 86.1% of all administered arbitrations | Brazilian parties represent 85,6% of the parties | 35% (at least one non-German party) | n/a | 82% | 12,6 % | n/a | 13,8% | n/a |
| Emergency arbitration applications | 17 | n/a | 4 | 4 | 21 | n/a | 5 | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Expedited procedures | 152 | n/a | 71 | 15 | 143 | 172 | 24 | 21 | n/a | 8% | 41 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arbitrator challenges | 33 | n/a | 12 | 10 | 2 | 37 | 5 | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Percentage of female arbitrators | 28,6% (of the total confirmations and appointments) 46% (appointments made by the ICC ) | 25% (appointments made in CY2024) 16 % (appointments made in all ICSID Cases) | 40% (arbitrators in SCC arbitrations) 57% (arbitrators appointed by the SCC) 28% (nominations made by the parties) 56% (arbitrators appointed by co-arbitrators) | 45% (appointments made by the LCIA) 21% (appointed by the parties) | 35% (appointments made by SIAC) | n/a | 34.7% (appointments made by HKIAC) 19.1% (nominations made by the parties) | 45,4% Tribunal) 25% (sole arbitrator) | 44% (appointments made by DIS) 13,33% (nominated by the parties) | 37% (appointments made by VIAC) 17% (nominated by the parties) | 42% (appointed by the Court) | 23,5% | n/a | 18,9 % (female arbitrators in panel) 25 % (appointed by KCAB) | n/a |
| Arbitrator nationality (top 3) | 1. U.K. (55%) 2. USA (8,06%) 3. France (6,94%) |
1. Western Europe (38%) 2. South America (23%) 3. North America (18%) |
n/a | 1. UK (55%) 2. USA (4.18%) 3. Germany (3.52%) |
1. Singapore (31%) 2. U.K. (23%) 3. India (8%) |
n/a | 1. Hong Kong (30.9%) 2. UK (21.2%) 3. Australia (11.5%) |
n/a | n/a | 1. Austria (40%) 2. CEE/ SEE (33%) 3. Other European (29%) |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 1. Korea (29,8%) 2. USA (13,6%) 3. UK (10,8%) |
n/a |
Conclusion
Arbitration in 2024 presents a mixed picture. The number of CIETAC arbitrations seems to know no limit. The overall number of cases remains very high at most institutions, even if 2024 does not represent a record year for most institutions. At the same time, the average amount in dispute seems to be rising. Arbitration is likely the preferred choice of dispute resolution for very large cases. Diversity remains a challenge.
[1] ICC, ICSID, SCC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, CAM-CCBC, DIS, VIAC, Swiss Arbitration Centre, ICDR, CIETAC, PCA, KCAB, JCAA.
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