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Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — all countries

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Lower-middle-income countries

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in lower-middle-income countries in 2023 — 14.13%. Since 1998, the indicator has fallen by 2.9 pp.

2023 14.13% +1.69 pp vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 17.04%1998
Period minimum 10.38%2006

Trend over time

1998–2023 · % of merchandise exports

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Lower-middle-income countries, 1998–202310121416181998200120042007201020132016201920221998: 17.04%1999: 14.77%2000: 12.55%2001: 13.59%2002: 13.1%2003: 12.7%2004: 13.15%2005: 13.27%2006: 10.38%2007: 10.94%2008: 11.18%2009: 13.37%2010: 11.51%2011: 11.11%2012: 13.06%2013: 12.43%2014: 13.12%2015: 14.39%2016: 14.55%2017: 13.85%2018: 12.69%2019: 13.71%2020: 15.05%2021: 13.67%2022: 12.44%2023: 14.13%
Change over the period: −2.9 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Lower-middle-income countries 14.13%
World 8.78%
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 14.13 +1.69 pp
2022 12.44 −1.23 pp
2021 13.67 −1.38 pp
2020 15.05 +1.34 pp
2019 13.71 +1.02 pp
2018 12.69 −1.16 pp
2017 13.85 −0.7 pp
2016 14.55 +0.16 pp
2015 14.39 +1.27 pp
2014 13.12 +0.69 pp
2013 12.43 −0.63 pp
2012 13.06 +1.95 pp
2011 11.11 −0.4 pp
2010 11.51 −1.87 pp
2009 13.37 +2.2 pp
2008 11.18 +0.24 pp
2007 10.94 +0.56 pp
2006 10.38 −2.89 pp
2005 13.27 +0.11 pp
2004 13.15 +0.46 pp
2003 12.7 −0.4 pp
2002 13.1 −0.49 pp
2001 13.59 +1.03 pp
2000 12.55 −2.22 pp
1999 14.77 −2.26 pp
1998 17.04 —

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.

Other indicators for lower-middle-income countries

Trade Agricultural raw materials exports (% of merchandise exports)

What part of merchandise exports is cotton, rubber, timber, hides and other non-food raw materials.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Trade Food imports (% of merchandise imports)

What part of merchandise imports a country spends on food — a measure of food dependence.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Economy Agriculture value added

How much agriculture, forestry and fishing create in money terms.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Agriculture Cereal production

The gross harvest of cereal crops, in tonnes.

Lower-middle-income countries by year
All indicators for lower-middle-income countries