Product intelligence · HS 261690 · 2024 data

Precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver)

Global exports of precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) totalled $12,245,403,238 in 2024, a +20.2% change from the previous year. Traded by 120 countries across 655 bilateral corridors, with demand from 93 importing markets. The long-term trend is rapid growth.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$12.2B

+20.2% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

+12.8%

5Y: +17.1%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.061

Volatility

Low

Score 10/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) trade exhibited strong growth, with global flows reaching $12,245,403,238 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of +12.8% (five-year: +17.1%). The all-time peak of $12,245,403,238 was recorded in 2024.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 83% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a predominantly expanding market. Trend momentum is steady (-0.4% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) as "One-way trade" in the low price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.061). The three largest exporters — Russia ($1.6B), South Africa ($1.2B), and Indonesia ($1.1B) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +23.6% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is concentrated (HHI 0.372). The three largest import markets are China ($7.3B), Germany ($1.4B), and United Kingdom ($541.9M). The largest importing market sources from 76 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -46.45. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is Russia → China at $1.5B, representing 21.1% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) is 10 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, strong demand tailwinds create a favourable entry environment. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $12,245,403,238 in 2024.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$3,136,703,903-11.3%
2016$3,937,943,289+25.5%
2017$4,013,884,451+1.9%
2018$4,371,131,851+8.9%
2019$5,553,359,881+27.0%
2020$7,555,541,414+36.1%
2021$8,525,986,184+12.8%
2022$9,766,464,840+14.5%
2023$10,184,674,194+4.3%
2024$12,245,403,238+20.2%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) in 2024.

View all 120 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver).

View all 93 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver), ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1RussiaChina$1.5B+44.1%
2PeruChina$1.0B+63.8%
3IndonesiaChina$977.4M+19418.6%
4South AfricaGermany$730.1M-14.8%
5BrazilChina$394.9M+1509.0%
6MexicoChina$380.2M+73.0%
7South AfricaUnited Kingdom$356.7M+12.0%
8KazakhstanChina$324.1M+13.3%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.