Trade Profile

flag Guyana Guyana: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

With an economy heavily dependent on international trade, the government of Guyana actively pursues multilateral trade agreements and ways to increase the competitiveness of its products. However, obstacles to investments and trade include inadequate infrastructure, high production costs, and regulatory constraints. According to the national Bureau of Statistics, the leading imports in 2024 were fuel and lubricants, articles of iron and steel, and contractors’ machinery, contributing USD 1,222.3 million, USD 731.4 million, and USD 462.6 million, respectively, to total imports. Exports of crude oil amounted to USD 17,993.2 million, representing 92.1% of domestic exports in 2024. Gold exports totalled USD 990.0 million, marking a 22.4% increase from USD 808.6 million in 2023.

According to the same source, the top three import trading partners for 2024 were the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and China. Imports from the United States totalled USD 1,925.2 million, from Trinidad and Tobago USD 1,094.3 million, and from China USD 926.1 million. On the other hand, Guyana’s main export partners were the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. Exports to these countries amounted to USD 3,461.7 million, USD 3,253.9 million, and USD 3,137.3 million, respectively. The country, which has been a member of the WTO since 1995, has low customs duties and moderate non-tariff barriers. In addition, goods coming from CARICOM are duty-free. However, high duties (up to 100%) are imposed on certain products such as agricultural products, alcohol, and tobacco.

Guyana’s value of imported goods in 2024 totalled USD 6,807.5 million, marking a 2.8% increase compared to 2023. Domestic exports reached USD 19,535.5 million in 2024, reflecting a 51.3% rise from the previous year. Re-exported goods were valued at USD 256.9 million in 2024, up 18.3% from USD 217.2 million in 2023. Overall exports, combining domestic exports and re-exports, amounted to USD 19,792.4 million in 2024, representing a 50.7% increase over 2023. Guyana recorded a goods trade surplus of USD 12,728.1 million in 2024. Although no official data is available for 2024, Guyana has historically been a net service importer (USD 3.8 billion in imports in 2022, against USD 237 million in exports – WTO, latest data available).

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20202021202220232024
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,2504,3763,6246,6366,731
Exports of Goods (million USD) 2,5904,35611,28113,21019,434
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,9892,8583,7824,921n/a
Exports of Services (million USD) 176224217524n/a
Trade Balance (million USD) 6356558,0767,207n/a

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Trinidad and Tobago 17.6%
United States 16.5%
Singapore 15.2%
Netherlands 9.3%
United Kingdom 7.7%
See More Countries 33.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
United States 30.2%
China 12.3%
Trinidad and Tobago 12.0%
Bahamas 4.5%
United Kingdom 4.3%
See More Countries 36.7%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

10.8 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 66.3%
Containers, incl. containers for the transport of...Containers, incl. containers for the transport of fluids, specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport 11.6%
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 5.4%
RiceRice 2.2%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machinery of heading 8425 to 8430, n.e.s. 2.2%
See More Products 12.3%
5.2 bn USD of products imported in 2023
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 18.8%
Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-boats, cargo...Cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-boats, cargo ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods 5.1%
Self-propelled bulldozers, angledozers, graders,...Self-propelled bulldozers, angledozers, graders, levellers, scrapers, mechanical shovels, excavators, shovel loaders, tamping machines and roadrollers 3.9%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machinery of heading 8425 to 8430, n.e.s. 3.7%
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%
See More Products 65.0%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

 
 

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 Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Member of Free Trade Area of Americas (FTAA)

Member of Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Member of Organization of American States (OAS)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
11.62%
 
 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Member of Free Trade Area of Americas (FTAA)

Member of Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Member of Organization of American States (OAS)

Useful Resources
Guyana Revenue Authority
 
 
 

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Latest Update: October 2025