BRICS Export Value Data: Who is the Biggest Player?

BRICS, the leading platform for emerging markets built by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, welcomed new members at the beginning of 2024.

These new members include Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ethiopia. The total number of BRICS members is now ten.

Despite their status as developing countries, the position of BRICS members is significant in international trade.

Data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) shows that several BRICS countries were major players in global exports in 2021. Below is a summary of the accumulated export value and their main export goods.

* China US$3.34 trillion

China's accumulated export value reached US$3.34 trillion in 2021. The country's main exports were broadcasting equipment (US$231 billion), computers (US$192 billion), integrated circuits (US$158 billion), office machine parts (US$101 billion), and telephones (US$53.9 billion).

These goods were largely exported to the United States (US$530 billion), Hong Kong (US$323 billion), Japan (US$168 billion), South Korea (US$140 billion), and Germany (US$134 billion).

* Russia US$484 billion

Russia's main exports were crude petroleum (US$113 billion), refined petroleum (US$81.8 billion), natural gas (US$37.7 billion), coal briquettes (US$19.1 billion), and gold (US$19.1 billion).

Most of these goods were exported to China (US$70.9 billion), the Netherlands (US$39 billion), the United States (US$27.4 billion), the United Kingdom (US$24.7 billion), and Italy (US$22.2 billion).

* India US$403 billion

India's main exports were refined petroleum (US$49 billion), diamonds (US$26.3 billion), packaged medicaments (US$19.2 billion), jewelry (US$10.7 billion), and rice (US$10 billion), mostly exported to the United States (US$71.2 billion), the United Arab Emirates (US$25.4 billion), China (US$23.1 billion), Bangladesh (US$14.1 billion), and Hong Kong (US$11.2 billion).

* United Arab Emirates/UAE US$296 billion

The UAE's main exports were crude petroleum (US$58.5 billion), refined petroleum (US$42.5 billion), gold (US$32.8 billion), broadcasting equipment (US$16.5 billion), and diamonds (US$13.6 billion).

These goods were mostly sent to India (US$42 billion), Japan (US$24.8 billion), China (US$22.8 billion), Saudi Arabia (US$22.3 billion), and Iraq (US$14.3 billion).

* Brazil US$288 billion

Brazil's main exports were iron ore (US$46.2 billion), soybeans (US$39 billion), crude petroleum (US$30.7 billion), raw sugar (US$10 billion), and poultry meat (US$7.66 billion).

Brazil's main export destinations were China (US$88.3 billion), the United States (US$30.2 billion), Argentina (US$12 billion), the Netherlands (US$9.29 billion), and Chile (US$7.14 billion).

* Saudi Arabia US$256 billion

Saudi Arabia's main export was crude petroleum (US$138 billion), followed by refined petroleum (US$35.9 billion), ethylene polymers (US$12.5 billion), propylene polymers (US$7.13 billion), and acyclic alcohols (US$5.39 billion).

These goods were mostly exported to China (US$48.7 billion), India (US$25.6 billion), Japan (US$24.1 billion), South Korea (US$21.5 billion), and the UAE (US$14 billion).

* South Africa US$143 billion

South Africa's main exports were platinum (US$24.5 billion), gold (US$20.1 billion), iron ore (US$7.68 billion), diamonds (US$7.02 billion), and coal briquettes (US$6.72 billion).

South Africa's main export destinations were China (US$20.6 billion), the United States (US$14 billion), Germany (US$10.4 billion), the United Kingdom (US$10.1 billion), and India (US$9.5 billion).

* Egypt US$44.5 billion

Egypt's main exports were refined petroleum (US$4.77 billion), crude petroleum (US$3.69 billion), natural gas (US$3.5 billion), nitrogenous fertilizers (US$1.7 billion), and gold (US$1.16 billion).

Egypt's main export destinations included the United States (US$3.7 billion), Turkey (US$3.09 billion), Greece (US$2.97 billion), Italy (US$2.58 billion), and India (US$2.51 billion).

* Ethiopia US$4.41 billion

Coffee was Ethiopia's main export commodity (US$1.16 billion), followed by gold (US$860 million), other oil seeds (US$337 million), other vegetables (US$272 million), and cut flowers (US$235 million).

Most of these goods were sent to the UAE (US$1.05 billion), the United States (US$495 million), Somalia (US$361 million), Saudi Arabia (US$248 million), and Germany (US$248 million).

* Iran US$14 billion

This country's main exports were ethylene polymers (US$3.2 billion), other nuts (US$925 million), semi-finished iron (US$816 million), refined copper (US$673 million), and acyclic alcohols (US$561 million).

Iran exported these goods to China (US$5.94 billion), Turkey (US$2.72 billion), Pakistan (US$614 million), Armenia (US$406 million), and India (US$379 million).

(Also read: [Economic Growth Projections for BRICS Countries in 2024 with its New Members](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2024/01/03/proyeksi-pertumbuhan-ekonomi-negara-brics-2024-dengan-anggota-barunya))