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Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign trade represents 85% of the country's GDP. Customs duties are relatively high, which limits economic diversification. Compared to non-agriculture products, agricultural products are subject to heavy taxes. Some other non-tariff barriers also exist, aiming to protect the local material industries. The lack of transparency in the legislative system, the market monopoly in most of the sectors and the poor quality of infrastructures constitute the main reasons that limit the development of foreign trade.

Gabon benefits from a very rich subsoil. The trade balance is characterized by a substantial surplus, a trend which should continue in the coming years. The countries main exports are oil (80%) manganese and timber. An increase on exports is anticipated due to the organization of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The main trading partners of the country are the United States (48.3% of exports), the European Union and the CEMAC (Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa) countries. France remains Gabon's first supplier with a market share of almost 35%.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,1572,5912,2002,5003,800
Exports of Goods (million USD) 6,3099,5065,5008,40012,500
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,4551,6321,279--
Exports of Services (million USD) 168195172--
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 133-39-
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 50-53-
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 95998684-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 33323431-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 62675352-

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2009
United States 59.0%
China 8.0%
Spain 5.3%
France 4.6%
Malaysia 4.0%
See More Countries 19.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2009
France 32.9%
Belgium 15.7%
United States 7.1%
Italy 5.1%
China 4.9%
See More Countries 34.2%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2009
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 81.2%
Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark...Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared (excl. rough-cut wood for walking sticks, umbrellas, tool shafts and the like; wood in the form of railway sleepers; wood cut into boards or beams, etc.) 7.0%
Manganese ores and concentrates, incl. ferruginous...Manganese ores and concentrates, incl. ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates, with a manganese content of >= 20%, calculated on the dry weight "ecsc" 2.9%
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 2.0%
Sheets for veneering, incl. those obtained by...Sheets for veneering, incl. those obtained by slicing laminated wood, for plywood or for other similar laminated wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end-jointed, of a thickness of <= 6 mm 1.8%
See More Products 5.0%
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%
Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of...Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steel (excl. products of cast iron) 5.6%
Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges...Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns", of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. prefabricated buildings of heading 9406) 3.8%
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) 3.4%
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) 2.7%
See More Products 78.1%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Member of African Union (AU)
Member of South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
19.54%
 

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
You can contact the Center of Industrial Property of Gabon by Email.
 

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

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Last Updates: May 2012

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