The trade values were calculated by UNCTAD based on the UN Comtrade Database. The source defines critical minerals as minerals that support structural transformation, energy and digital transitions, or industrial upgrading. Minerals are considered critical based on their global importance and supply risks, and furthermore, by their importance for global trade and developing economies. UNCTAD mapped a list of 60 critical minerals that include 499 harmonized system (HS) codes, which can be found . The list was informed by different critical mineral lists from countries, regions, or institutions.Â
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Imports of critical minerals worldwide, by region 2005-2023
The global import value of raw and semi-processed critical minerals was about *** trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. The import value in the previous year 2022 was slightly higher, at about *** trillion U.S. dollars. Asia was ranked highest among the world regions, importing about ****trillion U.S. dollars worth of critical minerals in 2023, followed by Europe with about ****billion U.S. dollars. Countries in Asia, therefore, imported about **** percent of global critical minerals in 2023. In comparison, Asian countries are accountable for about **** percent of global exports of critical minerals in the same year, making Asia a net importer of the minerals. Africa, on the other hand, exports critical minerals worth over 266 billion U.S. dollars while importing about 68 billion U.S. dollars worth of the minerals.
The UN Trade and Investment Conference (UNCTAD) designates 60 different minerals as critical, based on their role in structural transformations, supply risks, and their importance for developing economies.Â
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UNCTAD. (June 26, 2025). Value of global imports of raw and semi-processed critical minerals from 2005 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/
UNCTAD. "Value of global imports of raw and semi-processed critical minerals from 2005 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)." Chart. June 26, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/
UNCTAD. (2025). Value of global imports of raw and semi-processed critical minerals from 2005 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/
UNCTAD. "Value of Global Imports of Raw and Semi-processed Critical Minerals from 2005 to 2023, by Region (in Billion U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 26 Jun 2025, /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/
UNCTAD, Value of global imports of raw and semi-processed critical minerals from 2005 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Value of global imports of raw and semi-processed critical minerals from 2005 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph], UNCTAD, June 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1639613/global-imports-of-critical-minerals-by-region/
