Ores and metals imports in Iceland
Iceland: Ores and metals imports was 7.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals imports in Iceland, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals imports in Iceland stood at 7.9%.
The figure is down 11.2% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Iceland peaked at 16.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1973.
That places Iceland 7th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals imports in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 2.2% | — |
| 1963 | 1.8% | -17.2% |
| 1964 | 1.6% | -13.9% |
| 1965 | 1.6% | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 1.5% | -10.6% |
| 1967 | 1.4% | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 1.9% | +32.9% |
| 1969 | 6.3% | +233.2% |
| 1970 | 4.9% | -22.8% |
| 1971 | 4.9% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | -24.1% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | -70.5% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | +16.0% |
| 1975 | 1.3% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 1.3% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | -12.9% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | +17.8% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | -9.5% |
| 1980 | 1.7% | +35.7% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | -11.5% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | -7.8% |
| 1983 | 1.6% | +19.1% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | -11.6% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | -18.7% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | +142.7% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | +29.4% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 4.2% | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | -12.5% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | +25.5% |
| 1996 | 4.0% | -12.0% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | -19.9% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | +41.3% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +16.9% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +22.1% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | -24.1% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -17.8% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | +47.7% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | +106.8% |
| 2009 | 13.4% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 16.0% | +19.2% |
| 2011 | 15.4% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 13.0% | -15.2% |
| 2013 | 12.6% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | -20.3% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 13.1% | +21.5% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -12.5% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 9.9% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | -14.3% |
| 2024 | 8.9% | +10.8% |
| 2025 | 7.9% | -11.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 7.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 3.7× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 7.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.6%, 3.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals imports in Iceland 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +233.2% | 1.9% | 6.3% |
| 1988 | +142.7% | 1.3% | 3.1% |
| 2008 | +106.8% | 6.2% | 12.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.3% | 1.4% | 6.3% | 8 |
| 1970s | 2.2% | 1.1% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 4.1% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 9.5% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 7.9% | 10.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More energy & mining data for Iceland
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -4.9 % 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 0.0002 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 9.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 36.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Iceland?
- Ores and metals imports in Iceland was 7.9% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 16.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1973.
- How does Iceland rank for ores and metals imports?
- Iceland ranks 7th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.