Ores and metals imports in Belgium
Belgium: Ores and metals imports was 4.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals imports in Belgium, 1962–2024
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 Belgium is 4.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.9% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Belgium peaked at 14.7% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2002.
Belgium ranks 25th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 13.1% | — |
| 1963 | 11.4% | -12.9% |
| 1964 | 12.1% | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 12.5% | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 13.7% | +9.2% |
| 1967 | 12.9% | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 14.7% | +13.8% |
| 1969 | 13.3% | -9.3% |
| 1970 | 13.4% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 9.8% | -26.6% |
| 1972 | 8.7% | -11.5% |
| 1973 | 9.6% | +11.0% |
| 1974 | 10.5% | +8.7% |
| 1975 | 7.6% | -27.1% |
| 1976 | 7.7% | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 6.7% | -12.8% |
| 1978 | 6.3% | -7.0% |
| 1979 | 7.1% | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 8.2% | +15.1% |
| 1981 | 7.2% | -11.8% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | -12.3% |
| 1983 | 7.1% | +11.7% |
| 1984 | 6.9% | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 6.8% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 5.6% | -17.5% |
| 1987 | 5.3% | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -34.6% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +17.3% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | +30.1% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -18.6% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -21.9% |
| 2010 | 5.1% | +67.0% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -11.7% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 4.0% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | +20.7% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +17.5% |
| 2021 | 5.8% | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +10.9% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 4.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 2.2× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 4.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.6%, 1.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.0% | 11.4% | 14.7% | 8 |
| 1970s | 8.7% | 6.3% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.7% | 5.3% | 8.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 3.7% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.2% | 5.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More energy & mining data for Belgium
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 16.0% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 3.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Belgium?
- Ores and metals imports in Belgium was 4.6% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1968.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2002.
- How does Belgium rank for ores and metals imports?
- Belgium ranks 25th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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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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). 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.