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Foreign Trade in Figures

Benin is open to foreign trade (trade represents 40% of the GDP), and the country is a member of different commercial organizations: WTO and UEMOA (West Africa - website in French).

For years, Benin has been showing a structural negative trade balance, a trend that is expected to continue in 2012. This is mainly due to the country's low exports and its high dependence on imports, especially in oil and electricity supplies. During the first quarter of 2011, there was an increase of 4.2% in exports in relation to 2010 (FCFA 55.6 billion against FCFA 53.4 billion) and a reduction of 14.9% in its imports (FCFA 191.7 billion against FCFA 166.8 billion).

Benin mainly exports cotton, cashews, shea, textile products and seafood to China, Japan, India, Niger, Nigeria and Togo. The main import products are foodstuffs, petro-products and capital goods from China, the United States, Thailand, France and Malaysia. The main trade partners are the countries members of ECOWAS  (Economic Community of West African States), China and France. 

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,0372,2892,1102,3502,700
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,0471,2821,1001,2501,800
Imports of Services (million USD) 491500440564-
Exports of Services (million USD) 281328263267-
Trade Balance (million USD) -555-608---
Current Account (million USD) -534-536---
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 48444242-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 32292828-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 16151414-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2006
China 24.0%
Nigeria 8.7%
India 8.6%
Niger 7.2%
Ivory Coast 5.8%
See More Countries 45.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2006
France 17.2%
China 8.5%
Ivory Coast 6.9%
Ghana 6.8%
United Kingdom 6.3%
See More Countries 54.3%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2006
Cotton, neither carded nor combedCotton, neither carded nor combed 40.4%
Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of...Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes 15.6%
Coconuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, fresh or...Coconuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled 7.4%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 4.4%
Sunflower-seed, safflower or cotton-seed oil and...Sunflower-seed, safflower or cotton-seed oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified 3.9%
See More Products 28.3%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2006
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 15.3%
RiceRice 11.2%
Electrical energyElectrical energy 5.6%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 4.5%
Worn clothing and clothing accessories, blankets...Worn clothing and clothing accessories, blankets and travelling rugs, household linen and articles for interior furnishing, of all types of textile materials, incl. all types of footwear and headgear, showing signs of appreciable wear and presented in bulk or in bales, sacks or similar packings (excl. carpets, other floor coverings and tapestries) 4.4%
See More Products 58.9%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of: Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)

Member of West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
The assessment of Benin’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
13.93%
 

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes

 
Useful Resources
National Organization of Intellectual Property
The CENAPI, National Industrial Property Center.
 

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Learn more about How to Export to Benin on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

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Last Updates: May 2012

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