Ores and metals imports in South Africa
South Africa: Ores and metals imports was 2.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ores and metals imports in South Africa, 1974–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.5% for ores and metals imports in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in South Africa peaked at 3.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 60th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 3.1% | — |
| 1975 | 2.8% | -8.4% |
| 1976 | 2.8% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 2.3% | -17.4% |
| 1979 | 2.5% | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 2.1% | -16.8% |
| 1981 | 1.7% | -19.1% |
| 1982 | 1.6% | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +21.9% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | +18.1% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -33.3% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +48.7% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +13.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -19.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +19.5% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +24.8% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -44.6% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | +25.4% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +21.6% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | +10.4% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | +0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.6%, 1.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.9%, 2.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 6 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 57 Kazakhstan 2.6% compare
- 58 Netherlands 2.6% compare
- 59 Portugal 2.5% compare
- 61 Tajikistan 2.4% compare
- 62 Romania 2.4% compare
- 63 Mexico 2.4% compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % 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 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in South Africa?
- Ores and metals imports in South Africa was 2.5% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for ores and metals imports?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.