Focus on the Big Five
For safari goers in Africa, the Big Five are of course the elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. But here we put the Big Five of Latin America under the microscope. These are the five countries that last year were the region’s biggest buyers of German goods: Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Columbia.
Mexico
Capital: Mexico City
Population: 127.6m*
Area: 1,964,375 qm
GDP/capita: US$10,118*
German export goods to Mexico
as % of total exports
Machinery
Motor vehicles & parts
Chemical products
Top three export goods 2019
as % of total exports
- Motor vehicles & parts 24,6%
- Electronics 14,6%
- Machinery 9,4%
Top three import goods 2019
as % of total imports
- Electronics 14,9%
- Machinery 13,0%
- Chemical products 9,7%
Main supplier countries 2019
Share in %
- USA 44,1%
- China 17,8%
- Germany / Japan / South Korea – all 3,8%
Main customer countries 2019
Share in %
- USA 76,0%
- Canada 3,0%
- Germany / China – both 1,5%
Columbia
Capital: Bogotá Population: 50.3m* Fläche: 1.138.910 qm BIP/Kopf: 6.508 US-$*
German exports goods to Columbia *
as % of total exports
Chemical products
Machinery
Motor vehicles & parts
Top three export goods 2019
as % of total exports
- Crude oil 32,8%
- Coal 17,8%
- Food 12,1%
Top three import goods 2019
as % of total imports
- Chemical products 20,3%
- Electronics 10,0%
- Food 9,7%
Main supplier countries 2019
Share in %
- USA 25,6%
- China 20,6%
- 5. Germany 4,2%
Main customer countries 2019
Share in %
- USA 27,1%
- China 9,7%
- Panama 7,3%
Brazil
Capital: Brasilia Population: 211.1m* Area: 8,515,770 qm GDP/capita: US$ 8,797*
German export goods to Brazil *
in % der Gesamtausfuhr
Chemical products
Machinery
Motor vehicles & parts
Top three export goods 2019
as % of total exports
- Raw materials (excl. fuels) 30,6%
- Food 18,3%
- Crude oil 10,5%
Top three import goods 2019
as % of total imports
- Chemical products 23,9%
- Machinery 9,4%
- Electronics 8,9%
Main supplier countries 2019
Share in %
- China 19,2%
- USA 16,1%
- Argentina 6,1%
- Germany 5,8%
Main customer countries 2019
Share in %
- China 26,8%
- USA 12,2%
- Argentina 6,2%
- 6. Germany 2,2%
Chile
Capital: Santiago de Chile Population: 19m Area: 756,102 qm GDP/capita: US$15,399*
German export goods to Chile *
in % der Gesamtausfuhr
Other vehicles
Machinery
Motor vehicles & parts
Top three export goods 2019
as % of total exports
- Raw materials (excl. fuels) 37,2%
- Food 22,8%
- Non-ferrous metals 21,9%
Top three import goods 2019
as % of total imports
- Motor vehicles & parts 12,1%
- Chemical products 12,0%
- Machinery 11,5%
Main supplier countries 2019
Share in %
- China 23,8%
- USA 19,3%
- Brazil 8,1%
- 5. Germany 4,0%
Main customer countries 2019
Share in %
- China 32,4%
- USA 13,6%
- Japan 9,1%
Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires Population: 44.8m* Area: 2,780,400 qm GDP/head: US$9,888*
German export goods to Argentina *
in % der Gesamtausfuhr
Machinery
Chemical products
Motor vehicles & parts
Top three export goods 2019
as % of total exports
- Food 44,6%
- Raw materials (excl. fuels) 7,0%
- Motor vehicles & parts 6,6%
Top three import goods 2019
as % of total imports
- Chemical products 21,0%
- Machinery 15,7%
- Motor vehicles & parts 11,2%
Main supplier countries 2019
Share in %
- Brazil 20,5%
- China 18,8%
- USA 12,8%
- Germany 5,6%
Main customer countries 2019
Share in %
- Brazil 15,9%
- China 10,5%
- USA 6,3%
* Preliminary information, estimate or forecast
Source: Germany Trade and Invest 2020
