Congo flag Congo: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Congo

Foreign Trade in Figures

Congo's foreign trade policy aims to create a conducive environment for international trade, which constitutes around 96% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Customs duties are harmonized by the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC), ranging from 5% to 30%. As a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Congo is integrated into regional trade frameworks. Crude oil is the primary export of Congo, accounting for 91% of total exports in 2022. Raw timber follows as the second-largest export item (3%), with petroleum oils or bituminous minerals (2.04%) and sawn timber (2.0%) also contributing (data French Ministry of Economy). In terms of imports, agricultural and agri-food products are the primary items, with a total value of XOF 400 billion. This category includes products like "meat and edible offal," "wheat and meslin," "fish," palm oil, and rice. "Instruments and apparatus for medicine" constitute the second-largest import category (6.2%), followed by "medicines" (2.4% - data French Ministry of Economy).

In 2022, China emerged as the leading customer and supplier of Congo, accounting for 51% of Congolese exports and holding a 29% market share in imports (data French Ministry of Economy). Asia absorbed 72% of Congo's exports, primarily comprising petroleum and timber, followed by Europe (19%), America (4%), and Africa (3%). Despite this, exports to other African countries remained marginal, indicating limited regional integration and diversification.

Congo maintains a structurally positive trade balance, largely due to its high exports of hydrocarbons. In 2022, its exports and imports of goods were valued at USD 10.6 billion and USD 3 billion, respectively (WTO data). The country's trade surplus was estimated at 29.5% of GDP, up from 20.1% in the previous year (World Bank, latest data available).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,2421,9082,3523,0403,950
Exports of Goods (million USD) 5,5764,8937,3907,1605,970
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,6631,04100n/a
Exports of Services (million USD) 26523400n/a

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 120.0127.099.495.6111.6
Trade Balance (million USD) n/a4,3082,199n/an/a
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) n/a2,9101,391n/an/a
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 5.13.2-36.32.54.8
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 11.47.4-11.1-12.2-0.9
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 49.053.242.437.240.2
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 71.073.857.058.571.4

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.55.22.33.54.0
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 14.06.54.62.42.6

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
The Republic of the Congo is a member of the CEMAC - Central African Economic and Monetary Community and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC). The country is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
 
 
 
 
 

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Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: September 2024