Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — all countries

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Low-income countries

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in low-income countries in 2019 — 22.35%. Since 1974, the indicator has fallen by 1.93 pp.

2019 22.35% −1.86 pp vs 2018
World rank
Period maximum 34.19%1976
Period minimum 16.55%2005

Trend over time

1974–2019 · % of merchandise exports

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Low-income countries, 1974–2019152025303519741979198419891994199920042009201420191974: 24.27%1975: 28.1%1976: 34.19%2001: 17.08%2002: 19.67%2003: 19.26%2004: 18.66%2005: 16.55%2008: 18.51%2010: 19.1%2014: 31.45%2015: 31.01%2016: 31.19%2017: 27.69%2018: 24.2%2019: 22.35%
Change over the period: −1.93 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2019

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 22.35%
World 8.49%
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2019 22.35 −1.86 pp
2018 24.2 −3.48 pp
2017 27.69 −3.5 pp
2016 31.19 +0.17 pp
2015 31.01 −0.44 pp
2014 31.45
2010 19.1
2008 18.51
2005 16.55 −2.11 pp
2004 18.66 −0.6 pp
2003 19.26 −0.41 pp
2002 19.67 +2.59 pp
2001 17.08
1976 34.19 +6.08 pp
1975 28.1 +3.83 pp
1974 24.27

About the indicator

The share of food in merchandise exports: grain, meat, dairy products, fish, fruit, beverages, oils. Unlike dependence on fuel and metals, a food specialization is not considered a vulnerability of the same kind — demand for food grows with population and is not subject to technological substitution. The largest shares come not from the biggest producers but from small countries with a single export crop: coffee, cocoa, bananas.

Important: It includes beverages and vegetable oils but not agricultural raw materials such as cotton, rubber and hides — those have a separate indicator.

Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.