Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South America

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in South America in 2024 — 8.93%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 4.24 pp.

2024 8.93% −0.33 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 15.61%1964
Period minimum 5.63%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South America, 1962–202457.51012.51517.519621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 13.17%1963: 13.8%1964: 15.61%1965: 13.84%1966: 14.07%1967: 14.24%1968: 13.35%1969: 12.48%1970: 10.89%1971: 10.31%1972: 10.36%1973: 12.6%1974: 10.78%1975: 9.06%1976: 10.29%1977: 9.4%1978: 10.95%1979: 11.65%1980: 10.9%1981: 10.34%1982: 10.56%1983: 11.83%1984: 11.39%1985: 9.95%1986: 11.46%1987: 8.69%1992: 9.05%1993: 8.79%1994: 9.56%1995: 9.91%1996: 10.35%1997: 9.01%1998: 9.57%1999: 9%2000: 8.09%2001: 8.02%2002: 8.82%2003: 8.8%2004: 7.37%2005: 6.27%2006: 5.63%2007: 6.3%2008: 7.31%2009: 8%2010: 6.78%2011: 6.86%2012: 7.03%2013: 7.14%2014: 6.54%2015: 6.97%2016: 8.67%2017: 8.23%2018: 8.1%2019: 8.12%2020: 9.92%2021: 8.81%2022: 8.14%2023: 9.26%2024: 8.93%
Change over the period: −4.24 pp Annual average: -0.07 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

South America 8.93%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.93 −0.33 pp
2023 9.26 +1.12 pp
2022 8.14 −0.67 pp
2021 8.81 −1.11 pp
2020 9.92 +1.8 pp
2019 8.12 +0.02 pp
2018 8.1 −0.13 pp
2017 8.23 −0.44 pp
2016 8.67 +1.71 pp
2015 6.97 +0.43 pp
2014 6.54 −0.6 pp
2013 7.14 +0.1 pp
2012 7.03 +0.17 pp
2011 6.86 +0.09 pp
2010 6.78 −1.22 pp
2009 8 +0.69 pp
2008 7.31 +1.02 pp
2007 6.3 +0.66 pp
2006 5.63 −0.64 pp
2005 6.27 −1.09 pp
2004 7.37 −1.43 pp
2003 8.8 −0.02 pp
2002 8.82 +0.8 pp
2001 8.02 −0.07 pp
2000 8.09 −0.91 pp
1999 9 −0.57 pp
1998 9.57 +0.56 pp
1997 9.01 −1.34 pp
1996 10.35 +0.44 pp
1995 9.91 +0.34 pp
1994 9.56 +0.77 pp
1993 8.79 −0.26 pp
1992 9.05
1987 8.69 −2.77 pp
1986 11.46 +1.51 pp
1985 9.95 −1.44 pp
1984 11.39 −0.44 pp
1983 11.83 +1.27 pp
1982 10.56 +0.21 pp
1981 10.34 −0.56 pp
1980 10.9 −0.74 pp
1979 11.65 +0.7 pp
1978 10.95 +1.55 pp
1977 9.4 −0.88 pp
1976 10.29 +1.23 pp
1975 9.06 −1.72 pp
1974 10.78 −1.82 pp
1973 12.6 +2.24 pp
1972 10.36 +0.05 pp
1971 10.31 −0.58 pp
1970 10.89 −1.59 pp
1969 12.48 −0.87 pp
1968 13.35 −0.89 pp
1967 14.24 +0.17 pp
1966 14.07 +0.22 pp
1965 13.84 −1.77 pp
1964 15.61 +1.81 pp
1963 13.8 +0.63 pp
1962 13.17

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.