Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central

Africa Western and Central: Ores and metals imports was 0.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
0.9%
Change on year
down 9.9%
Rank
46th
of 47 groups
All-time high
2.4%
in 1997
All-time low
0.9%
in 2023
Years of data
46
1962–2023

Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central, 1962–2023

00.511.522.5196219922023

Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.

Analysis

The most recent figure for ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central is 0.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 46 years on record.

The figure is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central peaked at 2.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2023.

That places Africa Western and Central 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.

Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central, year by year

Annual values for Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Africa Western and Central, 1962 to 2023.
Year % of merchandise imports Change
1962 1.5%
1963 1.6% +8.2%
1964 1.5% -3.7%
1965 1.6% +4.9%
1966 2.0% +22.0%
1967 1.9% -5.5%
1968 1.8% -2.1%
1969 1.9% +4.9%
1970 1.6% -14.0%
1971 1.7% +5.0%
1972 1.6% -4.2%
1973 1.8% +7.1%
1974 1.6% -9.1%
1975 1.5% -4.8%
1976 1.6% +3.3%
1977 1.5% -3.9%
1978 1.5% -1.1%
1979 1.8% +18.0%
1981 1.6% -11.7%
1983 2.0% +27.2%
1996 2.1% +6.6%
1997 2.4% +14.8%
1998 2.0% -18.9%
1999 2.1% +4.1%
2000 2.0% -1.2%
2001 2.1% +4.6%
2002 2.1% -2.2%
2003 1.6% -22.6%
2006 2.0% +26.5%
2007 2.1% +4.4%
2008 1.6% -26.5%
2009 1.4% -9.3%
2010 1.1% -23.9%
2011 1.1% +5.9%
2012 1.5% +28.6%
2013 1.2% -15.8%
2014 1.2% -2.4%
2015 1.3% +7.2%
2016 1.1% -12.3%
2017 2.0% +75.7%
2018 1.2% -39.7%
2019 1.1% -5.7%
2020 1.1% -4.2%
2021 1.1% +3.9%
2022 1.0% -9.4%
2023 0.9% -9.9%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2017 +75.7% 1.1% 2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.7% 1.5% 2.0% 8
1970s 1.6% 1.5% 1.8% 10
1980s 1.8% 1.6% 2.0% 2
1990s 2.1% 2.0% 2.4% 4
2000s 1.9% 1.4% 2.1% 8
2010s 1.3% 1.1% 2.0% 10
2020s 1.0% 0.9% 1.1% 4

Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central

  1. 43 Argentina 3.3% compare
  2. 44 Slovenia 3.3% compare
  3. 45 Canada 3.2% compare
  4. 46 Poland 3.1% compare
  5. 47 Cambodia 3.1% compare
  6. 48 Saudi Arabia 2.9% compare
  7. 49 Croatia 2.9% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More energy & mining data for Africa Western and Central

All data for Africa Western and Central →

Frequently asked questions

What is ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central?
Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central was 0.9% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 1997.
What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2023.
How does Africa Western and Central rank for ores and metals imports?
Africa Western and Central ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ores and metals imports in Africa Western and Central. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/ores-and-metals-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/africa-western-and-central/

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About this data

Indicator
Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports)
Unit
% of merchandise imports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 9,983 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.