Manufactures imports in South Asia
South Asia: Manufactures imports was 47.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Manufactures imports in South Asia, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, manufactures imports in South Asia stood at 47.1%.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures imports in South Asia peaked at 65.6% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 1976.
That places South Asia 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Manufactures imports in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 58.0% | — |
| 1963 | 59.4% | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 60.1% | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 57.1% | -5.0% |
| 1966 | 46.6% | -18.4% |
| 1967 | 47.3% | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 53.7% | +13.6% |
| 1969 | 50.0% | -7.0% |
| 1970 | 49.3% | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 56.6% | +14.7% |
| 1972 | 60.1% | +6.2% |
| 1973 | 53.7% | -10.6% |
| 1974 | 43.3% | -19.4% |
| 1975 | 55.1% | +27.1% |
| 1976 | 38.7% | -29.7% |
| 1977 | 44.0% | +13.7% |
| 1978 | 48.8% | +11.0% |
| 1979 | 48.6% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 41.5% | -14.6% |
| 1981 | 42.2% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 50.4% | +19.5% |
| 1984 | 49.6% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 54.3% | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 65.6% | +20.8% |
| 1987 | 54.0% | -17.7% |
| 1988 | 56.9% | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 58.7% | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 52.1% | -11.2% |
| 1991 | 51.9% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 51.4% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 55.0% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 51.4% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 54.4% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 50.8% | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 51.6% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 49.5% | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 47.6% | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 46.1% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 47.2% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 51.0% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 50.1% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 50.3% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 48.5% | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 47.7% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 46.6% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 49.7% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 47.8% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 44.5% | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 42.1% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 42.3% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 41.7% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 50.4% | +20.9% |
| 2016 | 54.3% | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 51.9% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 50.5% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 51.1% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 53.6% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 49.0% | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 45.5% | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 48.3% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 47.1% | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54.0% | 46.6% | 60.1% | 8 |
| 1970s | 49.8% | 38.7% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 52.6% | 41.5% | 65.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 51.6% | 47.6% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.7% | 46.1% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.7% | 41.7% | 54.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.7% | 45.5% | 53.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 43 New Zealand 70.7% compare
- 44 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 70.7% compare
- 45 Suriname 70.7% compare
- 46 Saudi Arabia 70.5% compare
- 47 Bhutan 70.4% compare
- 48 Chile 70.1% compare
- 49 Uruguay 69.6% compare
More private sector data for South Asia
- Merchandise trade 30.0% (2025)
- Food imports 5.6% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 864.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 510.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 301.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1115 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 510.88 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures imports in South Asia?
- Manufactures imports in South Asia was 47.1% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures imports recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 1986.
- What is the lowest manufactures imports recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 1976.
- How does South Asia rank for manufactures imports?
- South Asia ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is manufactures imports rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). 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.