Ores and metals exports in North America
North America: Ores and metals exports was 3.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals exports in North America, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, ores and metals exports in North America stood at 3.8%.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in North America peaked at 8.5% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1999.
That places North America 30th out of 46 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Ores and metals exports in North America, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 8.3% | — |
| 1963 | 8.3% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 8.4% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 8.5% | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 8.0% | -6.0% |
| 1967 | 8.1% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 8.1% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 7.9% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 8.5% | +7.5% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | -26.3% |
| 1972 | 5.7% | -8.4% |
| 1973 | 6.3% | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 5.6% | -10.7% |
| 1976 | 5.2% | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 4.9% | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 4.8% | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 5.7% | +18.7% |
| 1980 | 7.0% | +21.8% |
| 1981 | 4.9% | -29.7% |
| 1982 | 4.2% | -13.9% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 4.5% | +16.5% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 3.4% | -12.7% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | -12.4% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | +18.4% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | -13.5% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -10.3% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -11.2% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +20.3% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +12.9% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +30.0% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 4.3% | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | +15.5% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -14.8% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 5.9% | 4.8% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.8% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.3% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 2.5% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.5% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 27 Lao People's Democratic Republic 20.2% compare
- 28 Sierra Leone 19.7% compare
- 29 Kyrgyzstan 18.6% compare
- 30 Montenegro 16.4% compare
- 31 Armenia 16.1% compare
- 32 Bahamas 16.1% compare
- 33 Bulgaria 15.6% compare
More energy & mining data for North America
- Fuel imports 7.3% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.3% (2024)
- Fuel exports 20.3% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.2% (2024)
- Mineral rents 0.2% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.4% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 1.6% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 14.9% (2024)
- Electric power consumption 12,975 kWh per capita (2024)
- Combustible renewables and waste 5.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in North America?
- Ores and metals exports in North America was 3.8% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1965.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1999.
- How does North America rank for ores and metals exports?
- North America ranks 30th out of 46 groups with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America 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.