Ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Ores and metals exports was 10.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 10.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 23.5% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 2003.
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 8th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 21.0% | — |
| 1963 | 23.5% | +12.2% |
| 1964 | 19.3% | -18.1% |
| 1965 | 18.9% | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 18.6% | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 18.9% | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 20.1% | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 18.5% | -7.8% |
| 1970 | 17.9% | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 16.6% | -7.3% |
| 1972 | 14.9% | -10.0% |
| 1973 | 17.0% | +14.1% |
| 1974 | 18.0% | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 16.5% | -8.6% |
| 1976 | 15.4% | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 13.6% | -11.2% |
| 1978 | 12.5% | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 11.9% | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 11.9% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 10.5% | -11.0% |
| 1982 | 10.4% | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 10.7% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 9.9% | -7.8% |
| 1985 | 10.2% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 10.2% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 10.6% | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 11.9% | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 10.5% | -11.9% |
| 1992 | 10.1% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 8.8% | -13.2% |
| 1994 | 8.4% | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 9.2% | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +20.8% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +20.4% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 11.3% | -10.4% |
| 2013 | 11.1% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 10.6% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 10.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | +15.9% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | -21.9% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 10.4% | -5.2% |
| 2025 | 10.5% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.9% | 18.5% | 23.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 15.4% | 11.9% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.6% | 9.9% | 11.9% | 8 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 7.9% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 7.0% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 9.5% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 10.4% | 13.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
More energy & mining data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Fuel imports 10.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.3% (2024)
- Fuel exports 6.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 13.6% (2024)
- Mineral rents 3.7% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.2% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 6.3% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 12.8% (2024)
- Electric power consumption 2,804 kWh per capita (2024)
- Combustible renewables and waste 28.3% (2024)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Ores and metals exports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 10.5% 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5% in 1963.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 2003.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for ores and metals exports?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 8th out of 46 groups with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
Download this data
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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.