Trade Profile

flag Guinea Guinea: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Guinea is open to foreign trade, which accounts for 132% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). About 98% of exports are mining products and the country has become the world’s third-largest producer of bauxite. Gold and diamonds are among the main exports; whereas imports are led by machinery, vehicles, rice, iron, plastics, mineral oils, ships and medicines (ITC, 2021).

The three main destinations of Guinea’s exports are India (33.8%), China (27.4%), and the UAE (25.3%), followed by Switzerland (2.4%), and Spain (1.9%). On the other hand, the country’s imports come mainly from China (39.6%), India (10.9%), the UAE (4.5%), Belgium (4.4%), and Turkey (4.1% - ITC, 2021). The country is a member of both WTO and ECOWAS and is in the process of an economic partnership with the EU as an ACP country. Customs duties are relatively high, but Guinea continues to work to make its economy more open by reducing other non-tariff barriers. Yet, nepotism, corruption, unskilled labour, and lack of transparency in duties and other taxes payments are all factors that undermine trade growth. Following the September 2021 coup, the country is at risk of economic sanctions. In November, the United States already suspended the country's eligibility for African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme and the ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership.

The country has a structural trade deficit; nevertheless, in 2021 the trend reversed as merchandise exports almost doubled to USD 10.4 billion (from USD 5.6 billion one year earlier) thanks to increased gold and bauxite exports, combined with reduced need for capital goods imports following the completion of the Souapiti project; whereas merchandise imports stood at USD 4 billion (+21.3% y-o-y). Concerning services, Guinea is a net importer with USD 1.1 billion in imports and only USD 27 million in exports in 2021 (WTO). Although official figures for 2022 are not available at the time of publishing, minerals exports increased over the year (especially bauxite) and the country’s trade balance is expected to remain positive.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 3,4843,3863,4703,3744,094
Exports of Goods (million USD) 4,5943,9783,9455,59510,433
Imports of Services (million USD) 7557978501,0111,166
Exports of Services (million USD) 52101954027
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -18-6-4-763
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 79-07-991
Trade Balance (million USD) 1,1115924755,2046,052
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 1018978132132
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 5749436868
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 4540356464

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of the African Union

Member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Member of the ‘Mano River Union’ which aims to form a Customs union bringing together Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
14.24%
 
 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the International Coffee Agreement
International Economic Cooperation
Member of the African Union

Member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Member of the ‘Mano River Union’ which aims to form a Customs union bringing together Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Useful Resources
The national customs website
 
 
 

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Latest Update: September 2023