Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in China
China: Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) was 16.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ores and metals imports in China, 1984–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals imports in China stood at 16.1%. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in China peaked at 16.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1986.
China ranks 2nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in China, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 5.5% | — |
| 1985 | 3.9% | -29.5% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -36.7% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | +17.1% |
| 1992 | 4.8% | +66.1% |
| 1993 | 3.9% | -19.3% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -12.1% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +30.5% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | +32.2% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | +17.9% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 12.0% | +27.4% |
| 2008 | 13.2% | +10.4% |
| 2009 | 13.6% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 13.1% | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 11.5% | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 10.2% | -11.5% |
| 2016 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 11.3% | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +11.3% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | +15.7% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | +10.9% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 16.1% | +6.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 9.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 16.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.4%, 11.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.7% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 4 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 3.4% | 5.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 5.4% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 10.2% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.7% | 13.5% | 16.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Gas production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in China?
- Ores and metals imports in China was 16.1% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 16.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1986.
- How does China rank for ores and metals imports?
- China ranks 2nd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.