Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 1.43 trillion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.43 trillion current US$
Change on year
down 5.9%
Rank
20th
of 47 groups
All-time high
1.52 trillion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
7.95 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean stood at 1.43 trillion current US$.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 1.52 trillion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.95 billion current US$, in 1960.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 20th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.95 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 8.29 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 8.31 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 8.41 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 9.10 billion current US$ | +8.2% |
| 1965 | 9.55 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 10.62 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1967 | 11.12 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 12.23 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1969 | 13.19 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1970 | 15.18 billion current US$ | +15.1% |
| 1971 | 16.89 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1972 | 19.10 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1973 | 25.07 billion current US$ | +31.2% |
| 1974 | 44.04 billion current US$ | +75.7% |
| 1975 | 47.86 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1976 | 48.55 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 54.51 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 1978 | 62.28 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1979 | 77.33 billion current US$ | +24.2% |
| 1980 | 97.67 billion current US$ | +26.3% |
| 1981 | 109.23 billion current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 87.12 billion current US$ | -20.2% |
| 1983 | 66.13 billion current US$ | -24.1% |
| 1984 | 69.22 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 70.33 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 70.19 billion current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 78.29 billion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 87.83 billion current US$ | +12.2% |
| 1989 | 93.81 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 107.01 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 1991 | 138.65 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 1992 | 166.60 billion current US$ | +20.2% |
| 1993 | 187.10 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 1994 | 213.77 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 237.31 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1996 | 269.87 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 1997 | 323.41 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1998 | 343.96 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 336.16 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 379.77 billion current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2001 | 370.40 billion current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 346.12 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 360.28 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 437.46 billion current US$ | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 519.22 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 2006 | 617.89 billion current US$ | +19.0% |
| 2007 | 740.13 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2008 | 900.25 billion current US$ | +21.6% |
| 2009 | 676.14 billion current US$ | -24.9% |
| 2010 | 874.20 billion current US$ | +29.3% |
| 2011 | 1.07 trillion current US$ | +22.3% |
| 2012 | 1.12 trillion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 1.15 trillion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 1.14 trillion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.02 trillion current US$ | -10.7% |
| 2016 | 930.24 billion current US$ | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 1.01 trillion current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 1.11 trillion current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 1.07 trillion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 907.46 billion current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2021 | 1.27 trillion current US$ | +39.6% |
| 2022 | 1.52 trillion current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2023 | 1.43 trillion current US$ | -5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.88 billion current US$ | 7.95 billion current US$ | 13.19 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 41.08 billion current US$ | 15.18 billion current US$ | 77.33 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.98 billion current US$ | 66.13 billion current US$ | 109.23 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 232.38 billion current US$ | 107.01 billion current US$ | 343.96 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 534.77 billion current US$ | 346.12 billion current US$ | 900.25 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.05 trillion current US$ | 874.20 billion current US$ | 1.15 trillion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.28 trillion current US$ | 907.46 billion current US$ | 1.52 trillion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 17 United Arab Emirates 391.80 billion current US$ compare
- 18 Poland 367.30 billion current US$ compare
- 19 Switzerland 364.05 billion current US$ compare
- 20 Türkiye 337.27 billion current US$ compare
- 21 Viet Nam 318.47 billion current US$ compare
- 22 Australia 287.89 billion current US$ compare
- 23 Thailand 284.28 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 9.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 73.2% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 1.66 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 24.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 46.5% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 1.67 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,503 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2256 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.02 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Latin America & Caribbean was 1.43 trillion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 1.52 trillion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.95 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 20th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.