Ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Ores and metals imports was 2.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 2.3%.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 4.4% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2001.
That places Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 3.1% | — |
| 1963 | 3.6% | +17.1% |
| 1964 | 3.8% | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 4.2% | +12.2% |
| 1966 | 4.4% | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 3.8% | -14.1% |
| 1968 | 3.6% | -5.3% |
| 1969 | 3.9% | +7.2% |
| 1970 | 4.0% | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | -13.3% |
| 1972 | 3.3% | -3.9% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | +15.0% |
| 1974 | 4.4% | +15.4% |
| 1975 | 3.8% | -13.5% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | -6.5% |
| 1977 | 3.4% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 3.5% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 3.9% | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | -12.9% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 2.9% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | -9.3% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | +23.2% |
| 1985 | 3.6% | +14.0% |
| 1986 | 3.4% | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | +12.7% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | -13.2% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | -10.5% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -14.3% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | -15.0% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -11.0% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +16.4% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | +19.0% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 2.0% | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +18.1% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -12.9% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | -9.3% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | +13.6% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -8.7% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.8% | 3.1% | 4.4% | 8 |
| 1970s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.3% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 8 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
More energy & mining data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Fuel imports 10.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 10.5% (2025)
- Fuel exports 6.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 13.6% (2024)
- Mineral rents 3.7% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.2% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 6.3% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 12.8% (2024)
- Electric power consumption 2,804 kWh per capita (2024)
- Combustible renewables and waste 28.3% (2024)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Ores and metals imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 2.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 1966.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2001.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for ores and metals imports?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
Download this data
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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.