Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Mercosur

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Mercosur in 2024 — 6.67%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 4.09 pp.

2024 6.67% −0.26 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 16.12%1964
Period minimum 4.32%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Mercosur, 1962–20240510152019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 10.77%1963: 12.67%1964: 16.12%1965: 13.26%1966: 13.83%1967: 14.99%1968: 12.86%1969: 11.48%1970: 9.69%1971: 8.32%1972: 7.96%1973: 10.54%1974: 7.46%1975: 6.31%1976: 7.6%1977: 6.74%1978: 9.37%1979: 10.78%1980: 8.64%1981: 7.92%1982: 7.84%1983: 7.73%1984: 8.4%1985: 8.43%1986: 13.05%1987: 7.61%1992: 8.41%1993: 8.26%1994: 9.12%1995: 9.69%1996: 9.56%1997: 8.36%1998: 8.53%1999: 7.35%2000: 6.72%2001: 6.31%2002: 6.98%2003: 6.88%2004: 4.88%2005: 4.37%2006: 4.32%2007: 4.75%2008: 4.77%2009: 5.36%2010: 4.57%2011: 4.5%2012: 4.69%2013: 4.79%2014: 4.88%2015: 5.1%2016: 6.82%2017: 6.18%2018: 6.22%2019: 6.06%2020: 7.31%2021: 6.26%2022: 5.48%2023: 6.93%2024: 6.67%
Change over the period: −4.09 pp Annual average: -0.07 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Mercosur

Mercosur 6.67%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Mercosur, by year Mercosur All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 6.67 −0.26 pp
2023 6.93 +1.45 pp
2022 5.48 −0.77 pp
2021 6.26 −1.05 pp
2020 7.31 +1.25 pp
2019 6.06 −0.16 pp
2018 6.22 +0.04 pp
2017 6.18 −0.64 pp
2016 6.82 +1.72 pp
2015 5.1 +0.22 pp
2014 4.88 +0.1 pp
2013 4.79 +0.09 pp
2012 4.69 +0.2 pp
2011 4.5 −0.07 pp
2010 4.57 −0.79 pp
2009 5.36 +0.59 pp
2008 4.77 +0.03 pp
2007 4.75 +0.43 pp
2006 4.32 −0.05 pp
2005 4.37 −0.51 pp
2004 4.88 −2 pp
2003 6.88 −0.11 pp
2002 6.98 +0.67 pp
2001 6.31 −0.41 pp
2000 6.72 −0.63 pp
1999 7.35 −1.18 pp
1998 8.53 +0.17 pp
1997 8.36 −1.19 pp
1996 9.56 −0.13 pp
1995 9.69 +0.57 pp
1994 9.12 +0.86 pp
1993 8.26 −0.15 pp
1992 8.41
1987 7.61 −5.44 pp
1986 13.05 +4.62 pp
1985 8.43 +0.03 pp
1984 8.4 +0.67 pp
1983 7.73 −0.11 pp
1982 7.84 −0.08 pp
1981 7.92 −0.72 pp
1980 8.64 −2.14 pp
1979 10.78 +1.41 pp
1978 9.37 +2.63 pp
1977 6.74 −0.86 pp
1976 7.6 +1.29 pp
1975 6.31 −1.15 pp
1974 7.46 −3.09 pp
1973 10.54 +2.58 pp
1972 7.96 −0.36 pp
1971 8.32 −1.37 pp
1970 9.69 −1.79 pp
1969 11.48 −1.38 pp
1968 12.86 −2.13 pp
1967 14.99 +1.15 pp
1966 13.83 +0.57 pp
1965 13.26 −2.86 pp
1964 16.12 +3.46 pp
1963 12.67 +1.9 pp
1962 10.77

About the indicator

The share of food in merchandise imports. The indicator reads as a measure of food dependence, but with a caveat: a high share occurs both in rich countries with little agriculture, where food is simply a large item of consumption, and in the poorest ones, where it means vulnerability to world grain prices. Comparing it with food insecurity and with the share of agriculture in the economy helps tell the two cases apart.

Important: A high value is not in itself a sign of trouble: in Singapore and Japan the share is high while the food supply is entirely secure. It is worth looking at together with food insecurity.

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