Ores and metals imports in India
India: Ores and metals imports was 6.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals imports in India, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, ores and metals imports in India stood at 6.9%.
That represents a change of up 13.7% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in India peaked at 9.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2003.
That places India 12th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in India, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 6.1% | — |
| 1963 | 6.3% | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 6.3% | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 7.1% | +11.6% |
| 1966 | 5.1% | -27.5% |
| 1967 | 8.0% | +56.5% |
| 1968 | 6.8% | -14.6% |
| 1969 | 6.8% | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 9.9% | +45.5% |
| 1971 | 8.9% | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 8.3% | -6.6% |
| 1973 | 7.1% | -14.9% |
| 1974 | 6.9% | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 5.4% | -22.1% |
| 1976 | 5.3% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | +11.4% |
| 1978 | 6.0% | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 6.7% | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 5.9% | -12.0% |
| 1981 | 6.0% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 5.6% | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 5.9% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | +18.1% |
| 1986 | 7.1% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 7.1% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 7.7% | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +16.5% |
| 1990 | 8.1% | -9.0% |
| 1991 | 6.4% | -21.3% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | -22.1% |
| 1994 | 7.4% | +41.9% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 6.0% | -9.9% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | -10.2% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +14.4% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | -14.8% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | -10.8% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | +23.6% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | -12.2% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | +15.6% |
| 2012 | 5.0% | -9.1% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | +16.0% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -12.0% |
| 2020 | 5.2% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +13.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 6.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 6.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 6.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.6%, 2.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.6% | 5.1% | 8.0% | 8 |
| 1970s | 7.0% | 5.3% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.8% | 5.6% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 5.0% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 4.0% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 4.8% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.2% | 6.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More energy & mining data for India
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.7224 % 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 (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 31.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 3.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in India?
- Ores and metals imports in India was 6.9% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 9.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2003.
- How does India rank for ores and metals imports?
- India ranks 12th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.