This list reveals the top 10 silver importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world silver imports totaled US$18.9 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $31.5 million worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $17.1 million
2. Egypt: $5.5 million
3. Tunisia: $2.3 million
4. Algeria: $1.9 million
5. Mauritius: $1.5 million
6. Mali: $1.4 million
7. Morocco: $1 million
8. Somalia: $537,000
9. British Indian Ocean Terr: $66,000
10. Tanzania: $47,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $8.8 billion worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. India: $3 billion
2. China: $1.4 billion
3. Japan: $1.2 billion
4. Hong Kong: $914.8 million
5. Taiwan: $709.6 million
6. Thailand: $542.7 million
7. Singapore: $476.4 million
8. South Korea: $267.8 million
9. Turkey: $147.4 million
10. Nepal: $105 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $5 billion worth of silver led by the following EU members:
1. United Kingdom: $2.8 billion
2. Germany: $832.6 million
3. Italy: $435.3 million
4. France: $332.1 million
5. Belgium: $113.8 million
6. Netherlands: $102.6 million
7. Spain: $98.7 million
8. Austria: $56.2 million
9. Czech Republic: $43 million
10. Hungary: $26.2 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $145.4 million worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $99.7 million
2. Dominican Republic: $16.6 million
3. El Salvador: $8 million
4. Chile: $7.2 million
5. Colombia: $4 million
6. Cayman Islands: $2.6 million
7. Argentina: $2.2 million
8. Bolivia: $1.4 million
9. Costa Rica: $927,000
10. Panama: $497,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $96.4 million worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. Israel: $45.1 million
2. United Arab Emirates: $35.5 million
3. Oman: $6.1 million
4. Saudi Arabia: $4.2 million
5. Jordan: $2.3 million
6. Lebanon: $1.5 million
7. Bahrain: $752,000
8. Iran: $341,000
9. Qatar: $316,000
10. Kuwait: $194,000
North American Importers
North America imported $4.4 billion worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. United States: $3.6 billion
2. Canada: $672.9 million
3. Mexico: $76.5 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $93.1 million worth of silver led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $81.4 million
2. New Zealand: $11.7 million
3. French Polynesia: $37,000
4. New Caledonia: $11,000
5. Papua New Guinea: $8,000
6. Fiji: $1,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing silver importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported silver was -35.8%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Silver Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Silver Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
