Food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Food imports was 9.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) is 9.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 15.4% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2006.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.5% | 9.0% | 12.0% | 8 |
| 1970s | 11.0% | 9.2% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.0% | 9.8% | 15.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 9.4% | 8.2% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 6.4% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.3% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.9% | 8.4% | 9.5% | 5 |
More private sector data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Merchandise exports 1.55 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 56.4% (2025)
- Food exports 19.7% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 1.57 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures imports 73.2% (2024)
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Commercial service exports 276.49 billion current US$ (2025)
- Transport services 30.8% (2025)
- Computer, communications and other services 36.0% (2025)
- Commercial service imports 349.90 billion current US$ (2025)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Food imports in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 9.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 1983.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2006.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.