To give some perspective, global exports from all countries worldwide equaled $19.347 trillion in 2019, rising 2.4% in value since 2015 and appreciating by 10.2% from 2018 to 2019. To give further context, South American exports in 2019 represents an estimated 2.6% of total world exported goods.
Calculated using statistics from the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Database, the aggregate Gross Domestic Product for all South American countries amounted to roughly $6.82 trillion for 2019. Therefore, exports account for approximately 7.5% of South America’s total economic output down from 8.4% one year earlier.
Given South America’s population of about 427 million people, the $510.5 billion in South American exports for 2019 translates to roughly $1,200 for every person living on the continent. That metric reflects roughly a 13% increase from $1,063 in exports per capita three years earlier during 2016.
Top South American Export Countries
Below are the South American export countries sorted in order by those attained the highest dollar value in global shipments during 2019. Also shown is each country’s overall share of South American exports plus the change in value year over year.
| Rank | Exporter | 2019 Exports | Continent Total | 2018-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brazil | $223,998,669,000 | 43.9% | -6.6% |
| 2. | Chile | $69,145,962,000 | 13.5% | -8.3% |
| 3. | Argentina | $65,115,327,000 | 12.8% | +5.4% |
| 4. | Peru | $45,135,222,000 | 8.8% | -4.4% |
| 5. | Colombia | $39,496,225,000 | 7.7% | -5.4% |
| 6. | Ecuador | $22,329,379,000 | 4.4% | +3.3% |
| 7. | Venezuela | $16,479,751,000 | 3.2% | -56.4% |
| 8. | Uruguay | $7,816,028,000 | 1.53% | +2.3% |
| 9. | Bolivia | $7,671,876,000 | 1.5% | -14.4% |
| 10. | Paraguay | $7,652,036,000 | 1.5% | -15.4% |
| 11. | Guyana | $3,842,163,000 | 0.8% | +159.1% |
| 12. | Suriname | $1,460,966,000 | 0.3% | -2.8% |
| 13. | Falkland Is (Malvinas) | $315,846,000 | 0.06% | +1.9% |
Collectively, South America’s top 5 export countries account for 86.8% of the overall value for all goods shipped from the continent in 2019.
Brazil generates nearly half of all South American exports. Brazil’s top exports include soya beans, iron ores, crude oil, sugar and cars.
Five South American exporters grew the value of their international trade shipments from 2018 to 2019: Guyana (up 159.1%), Argentina (up 5.4%), Ecuador (up 3.3%), Uruguay (up 2.3%) then Falkland Islands aka Malvinas (up 1.9%).
Once again crude oil seller Venezuela led the decliners via a -56.4% drop year over year, followed by Paraguay (down -15.4%), Bolivia (down -14.4%), Chile (down -8.3%) then Brazil (down -6.6%).
See also Argentina’s Top 10 Exports, Brazil’s Top 10 Exports and Chile’s Top Trade Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports and World Population. Accessed on June 26, 2020
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on June 26, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 26, 2020
Wikipedia, Economy of Venezuela. Accessed on June 26, 2020
Wikipedia, List of South American countries by population. Accessed on June 26, 2020
WorldOMeter, South America Population. Accessed on June 26, 2020