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flag Djibouti Djibouti: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Djibouti has a liberal trade regime, with an unrestricted banking and commercial sector. The country has a free-trade zone status in Eastern Africa. It is a member of the WTO, the IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development), the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), the Arab League, the African Union and has signed a number of bilateral agreements. The share of trade contributes to more than 50% to the the GDP.

It is important to note that the economies of Ethiopia and Djibouti are interdependent up to a 70% of their trade, via the port of Djibouti which constitutes the only maritime outsource of the landlocked territory of Ethiopia.

Djibouti is characterized by almost a total absence of export goods and imports constantly rising. Its trade balance is in a structural deficit, a trend which should continue in the coming years.

The country mainly imports food, beverages, transport equipment, chemical products and petro-products. The main trading partners of the country are China, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia, Ethiopia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Somalia and Brazil.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 473574451420420
Exports of Goods (million USD) 58697710095
Imports of Services (million USD) 99121114104-
Exports of Services (million USD) 92131142149-
Trade Balance (million USD) -415-505-373--
Current Account (million USD) -171-225-71--
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 134----
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 77----
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 57----

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2009
Ethiopia 35.3%
France 20.1%
Somalia 11.9%
Brazil 8.7%
Qatar 6.3%
See More Countries 17.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2009
France 30.5%
United Arab Emirates 18.5%
Saudi Arabia 6.0%
Japan 5.5%
Ethiopia 5.0%
See More Countries 34.6%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2009
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 14.8%
Conveyor or transmission belts or belting, of...Conveyor or transmission belts or belting, of vulcanised rubber 12.4%
Agricultural, horticultural or forestry machinery...Agricultural, horticultural or forestry machinery for soil preparation or cultivation (excl. sprayers and dusters); lawn or sports-ground rollers; parts thereof 8.7%
Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added...Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter 8.1%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 7.0%
See More Products 49.1%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2009
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 6.3%
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) 5.8%
Radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus...Radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus and radio remote control apparatus 5.2%
Prefabricated buildings, whether or not complete...Prefabricated buildings, whether or not complete or already assembled 2.2%
Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries,...Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, back, white or redcurrants, gooseberries and other edible fruits (excl. nuts, bananas, dates, figs, pineapples, avocadoes, guavas, mangoes, mangosteens, papaws "papayas", citrus fruit, grapes, melons, apples, pears, quinces, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and sloes) 2.1%
See More Products 78.3%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA);
Member of African Union;
Member of Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD;
Member of Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
Djibouti applies the COMESA foreign ( Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) common tariff:
- No tax on capital goods and raw materials;
- 10% customs duty on intermediate products;
- 25% on finished products.
 

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

 
Useful Resources
Djibouti Customs
National Organization of Intellectual Property
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (in French).
 

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

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Last Updates: May 2012

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