Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) — all countries

Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa

Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 — 16.14%. Since 1974, the indicator has risen by 3.64 pp.

2024 16.14% +0.09 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 18.44%2021
Period minimum 5.5%1981

Trend over time

1974–2024 · % of merchandise exports

Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1974–202405101520197419791984198919941999200420092014201920241974: 12.5%1975: 13.35%1976: 13.98%1977: 13.7%1978: 10.49%1979: 9.06%1981: 5.5%1996: 9.32%1997: 7.92%1998: 7.91%1999: 12.05%2000: 8.28%2001: 13.3%2002: 9.18%2003: 11.28%2004: 15.86%2005: 16%2006: 16.07%2007: 15.04%2008: 14.52%2009: 13.42%2010: 14.37%2011: 14.05%2012: 12.69%2013: 13.61%2014: 13.06%2015: 13.67%2016: 12.68%2017: 12.96%2018: 13.08%2019: 14.77%2020: 16.87%2021: 18.44%2022: 16.54%2023: 16.05%2024: 16.14%
Change over the period: +3.64 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 16.14%
World 4.02%
Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 16.14 +0.09 pp
2023 16.05 −0.49 pp
2022 16.54 −1.9 pp
2021 18.44 +1.56 pp
2020 16.87 +2.1 pp
2019 14.77 +1.69 pp
2018 13.08 +0.11 pp
2017 12.96 +0.29 pp
2016 12.68 −0.99 pp
2015 13.67 +0.61 pp
2014 13.06 −0.55 pp
2013 13.61 +0.92 pp
2012 12.69 −1.36 pp
2011 14.05 −0.32 pp
2010 14.37 +0.95 pp
2009 13.42 −1.1 pp
2008 14.52 −0.52 pp
2007 15.04 −1.02 pp
2006 16.07 +0.06 pp
2005 16 +0.14 pp
2004 15.86 +4.58 pp
2003 11.28 +2.1 pp
2002 9.18 −4.13 pp
2001 13.3 +5.02 pp
2000 8.28 −3.77 pp
1999 12.05 +4.14 pp
1998 7.91 −0 pp
1997 7.92 −1.41 pp
1996 9.32
1981 5.5
1979 9.06 −1.43 pp
1978 10.49 −3.22 pp
1977 13.7 −0.28 pp
1976 13.98 +0.63 pp
1975 13.35 +0.85 pp
1974 12.5

About the indicator

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.