Ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income): Ores and metals exports was 5.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) stood at 5.6%.
The figure is down 21.7% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) peaked at 18.8% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2001.
That places Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 16th out of 46 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 16.0% | — |
| 1963 | 18.8% | +17.9% |
| 1964 | 14.2% | -24.7% |
| 1965 | 14.0% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 13.7% | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 14.0% | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 15.6% | +11.6% |
| 1969 | 13.8% | -11.1% |
| 1970 | 13.3% | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 12.3% | -7.4% |
| 1972 | 10.3% | -16.2% |
| 1973 | 12.1% | +17.9% |
| 1974 | 13.6% | +12.3% |
| 1975 | 13.0% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | -9.3% |
| 1977 | 10.3% | -12.0% |
| 1978 | 9.2% | -11.2% |
| 1979 | 8.1% | -11.9% |
| 1980 | 8.4% | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -18.1% |
| 1982 | 7.0% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 7.2% | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | -7.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 7.4% | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 7.9% | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 8.5% | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 7.9% | -6.3% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 7.5% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 6.4% | -13.8% |
| 1994 | 6.1% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -12.1% |
| 1997 | 5.6% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 5.6% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 5.0% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +27.9% |
| 2011 | 9.3% | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -14.5% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 6.4% | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 7.3% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 7.0% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +12.8% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | -25.3% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 7.1% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 5.6% | -21.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.0% | 13.7% | 18.8% | 8 |
| 1970s | 11.4% | 8.1% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.4% | 6.6% | 8.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.5% | 5.6% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 4.8% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 6.4% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 5.6% | 9.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
- 13 Zimbabwe 33.8% compare
- 14 Mauritania 33.7% compare
- 15 Madagascar 32.9% compare
- 16 Macao 32.8% compare
- 17 Namibia 32.3% compare
- 18 South Africa 30.3% compare
- 19 Papua New Guinea 29.8% compare
More energy & mining data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
- Fuel imports 9.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.4% (2024)
- Fuel exports 7.4% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 14.2% (2024)
- Mineral rents 2.9% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.1% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 5.7% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 12.6% (2024)
- Electric power consumption 2,739 kWh per capita (2024)
- Combustible renewables and waste 28.3% (2024)
All data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Ores and metals exports in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) was 5.6% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 1963.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2001.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) rank for ores and metals exports?
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 16th out of 46 groups with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.