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flag Burkina Faso Burkina Faso: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Burkina Faso is open to trade and the government, which controls the fiscal policies, is looking to encourage trade and investments. However, internal crises and those faced by its neighboring country Ivory Coast continue to hinder trade and industrial prospects.
Customs duties (apart from oil) have been reduced from 200% to 66%. Substantial income is generated by the VAT levied from customs duties and excise duties.
In the context of UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union), Burkina Faso has regulated its tariff structure. Goods produced in UEMOA are exempt of import tax.
Burkina Faso imports much more than what it exports, which translates into a large deficit on its trade balance. The balance is expected to remain negative during the next decade.

The main trading partners of the Sahelian State are ECOWAS (Economic Community of West Africa), the European Union and Japan. France is placed as one one of the main suppliers of Burkina Faso, after China and Ivory Coast.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 1,6782,0181,8702,1552,600
Exports of Goods (million USD) 6236938901,2001,800
Imports of Services (million USD) 392564491651-
Exports of Services (million USD) 8110995157-
Trade Balance (million USD) -1,155-1,654---
Current Account (million USD) -1,070-1,709---

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2010
Switzerland 63.5%
South Africa 11.2%
Singapore 4.9%
United Kingdom 3.0%
Ghana 2.7%
See More Countries 14.8%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2010
Ivory Coast 16.0%
France 10.3%
China 9.7%
Togo 4.5%
Netherlands 4.4%
See More Countries 55.1%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2010
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 68.6%
Cotton, neither carded nor combedCotton, neither carded nor combed 17.3%
Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, whether or...Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, whether or not broken (excl. edible nuts, olives, soya beans, ground-nuts, copra, linseed, rape or colza seeds and sunflower seeds) 5.5%
Live bovine animalsLive bovine animals 0.6%
Coconuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, fresh or...Coconuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled 0.6%
See More Products 7.3%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2010
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 20.7%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.9%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 3.6%
RiceRice 3.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.5%
See More Products 66.1%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of African Union (AU)

Member of Community of Sahel-Saharan States

Member of West African Monetary and Economic Union (WAEMU)

Member of Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
13.19%
 

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

 
Useful Resources
Customs
National Organization of Intellectual Property
You can contact the National Directorate of Industrial Property by Email.
 

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Last Updates: May 2012

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