Papua New Guinea: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Papua New Guinea is open to trade, which represented 60% of GDP in 2021 (UNCTAD, 2022). The country is in the process of liberalising its trade and investment system. It exports petroleum gas (38.1% of total exports in 2021), Gold and other precious metals (15.6%), copper ores (7.4%) and nickel mattes with 6% (OEC, 2023). Main imports are led by refined petroleum (9.92%), rice (2.9% ), delivery truck (2.47%), excavation machinery (2.31%) and motor vehicles and parts (2%).

Japan and China are the two main trade partners of the country (24.7% of total exports in 2021 respectively), followed by Australia (15,5%) and Taiwan with 6,36% (OEC, 2023). The main suppliers are Australia (26.6%), China (24.7%), Singapore (12.7%) and Malaysia with 8% (OEC, 2023). The country received MFN (most favoured nation) status from WTO members and benefits from preferred rights with the European Union after signing an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2009. Thus, imports from Papua New Guinea have duty-free access into the EU market.

According to 2022 WTO data, Papua New Guinea exported goods for a total value of USD 10.43 billion in 2021, while imports increased to USD 3.02 billion, achieving a trade surplus of USD 6.57 billion. The policy goal is to maximise trade and investment by increasing exports, to reduce imports. The government is aiming to phase out the export of unprocessed round logs in the coming years and to expand domestic processing of logs to get more revenue, according to the Ministry for Forestry. For the past two decades, Papua New Guinea has been following a policy of tariff reduction, and on three quarters of imports, where there is no domestic production, no tariffs apply. The average applied tariff rate is 4.6%, but high tariff rates are applied to certain food and plastic products (unprocessed products are subject to higher taxes) to protect domestic producers. Inefficient state institutions and high vulnerability to international markets are key obstacles towards improved trade.

Foreign Trade Indicators	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Imports of Goods (million USD)	3,059	3,519	3,934	2,642	3,024
Exports of Goods (million USD)	9,952	10,524	11,399	9,229	10,433
Imports of Services (million USD)	1,510	1,617	1,630	1,320	939
Exports of Services (million USD)	254	356	319	178	107
Trade Balance (million USD)	6,892	6,995	n/a	n/a	n/a

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

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

Main Services

0.4 bn USD of services exported in 2018
Other business servicesOther business services	47.64%
Insurance servicesInsurance services	24.09%
Government servicesGovernment services	8.46%
Construction servicesConstruction services	7.29%
Financial servicesFinancial services	5.89%
TransportationTransportation	3.75%
Computer and information servicesComputer and information services	1.78%
TravelTravel +	0.89%
Business travelBusiness travel	0.67%
Personal travelPersonal travel	0.22%
Cultural and recreational servicesCultural and recreational services	0.21%

1.6 bn USD of services imported in 2018
Other business servicesOther business services	56.23%
TransportationTransportation	19.38%
Construction servicesConstruction services	7.68%
TravelTravel +	6.93%
Personal travelPersonal travel	5.48%
Business travelBusiness travel	1.46%
Insurance servicesInsurance services	3.62%
Computer and information servicesComputer and information services	3.29%
Financial servicesFinancial services	2.05%
Government servicesGovernment services	0.81%
Cultural and recreational servicesCultural and recreational services	n/a%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation: Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Assessment of Commercial Policy: Country’s commercial policy
Barriers to exchanges
Sanitary and phytosanitary barriers
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products): 5.34%

Trade Compliance

International Conventions: Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation: Member of Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Useful Resources: Papua New Guinea Customs Service

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