Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in South Africa in 2025 — 30.34%. Ranked 4 in the world out of 24. Since 1974, the indicator has risen by 14.2 pp.
1974–2025 · % of merchandise exports
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30.34 | +1.17 pp |
| 2024 | 29.17 | +0.05 pp |
| 2023 | 29.12 | −2.43 pp |
| 2022 | 31.55 | −6.23 pp |
| 2021 | 37.78 | +6.34 pp |
| 2020 | 31.44 | +2.98 pp |
| 2019 | 28.45 | +2.84 pp |
| 2018 | 25.61 | +1.42 pp |
| 2017 | 24.19 | +2.12 pp |
| 2016 | 22.07 | −1.2 pp |
| 2015 | 23.27 | −0.96 pp |
| 2014 | 24.23 | −3.64 pp |
| 2013 | 27.87 | +2.57 pp |
| 2012 | 25.3 | −2.75 pp |
| 2011 | 28.05 | −0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 28.24 | −0.98 pp |
| 2009 | 29.22 | +0.18 pp |
| 2008 | 29.04 | −0.29 pp |
| 2007 | 29.33 | +0.87 pp |
| 2006 | 28.47 | +6.21 pp |
| 2005 | 22.26 | +0.28 pp |
| 2004 | 21.99 | +2.96 pp |
| 2003 | 19.03 | +7.79 pp |
| 2002 | 11.23 | −11.6 pp |
| 2001 | 22.83 | +12.19 pp |
| 2000 | 10.65 | −10.59 pp |
| 1999 | 21.23 | +11.75 pp |
| 1998 | 9.48 | +1.39 pp |
| 1997 | 8.1 | −3.28 pp |
| 1996 | 11.38 | +3.38 pp |
| 1995 | 8 | +1.59 pp |
| 1994 | 6.41 | −1.27 pp |
| 1993 | 7.69 | −2.42 pp |
| 1992 | 10.1 | — |
| 1984 | 8.69 | +0.99 pp |
| 1983 | 7.7 | −0.03 pp |
| 1982 | 7.73 | +0.07 pp |
| 1981 | 7.66 | +0.7 pp |
| 1980 | 6.96 | −6.43 pp |
| 1979 | 13.39 | −0.9 pp |
| 1978 | 14.28 | −3.56 pp |
| 1977 | 17.84 | −1.27 pp |
| 1976 | 19.11 | +3.75 pp |
| 1975 | 15.36 | −0.78 pp |
| 1974 | 16.14 | — |
The share of ores, concentrates, non-ferrous and ferrous metals in merchandise exports. This is the second measure of commodity dependence after fuel, and the difference between them is meaningful: fuel is burned while metal stays in circulation, so a metallurgical specialization is more robust than an oil one to the shift to renewable energy — and demand for copper, lithium and nickel is exactly what that shift raises.
Important: Ores and metals together, with no split between raw material and processing: a country exporting concentrate and a country exporting rolled steel look the same by this indicator.
Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.
What part of merchandise exports is oil, gas, coal and refined products.
Mining Cobalt productionHow much cobalt is mined in the world. More than two-thirds comes from one country.
Trade Merchandise exportsExports of goods only, without services — WTO data.
