flag Burundi Burundi: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Burundi is open to global trade. According to World Bank, in 2020, foreign trade represented 33% of Burundi's GDP. Gold and coffee represent the main export products (respectively 28.3% and 19% of total exports), followed by tea (13.3%) ; while the key imports are refined petroleum (15.1% of total imports), pharmaceutical products (5.5%), motor vehicles (4.8%), fertilizers (3.7%) and cement (3.4%).

In 2020, Burundi's main suppliers were, China (15.6%), Saudi Arabia (11.8%), India (9.5%), Tanzania (8.6%) and United Arab Emirates (6.8%). Burundi's exports were directed chiefly towards the United Arab Emirates (32.2%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (19.6%), Pakistan (5.6%), Tanzania (5.3%) and Belgium (5%). Burundi is a member of the following trade organisations: the WTO, COMESA (Eastern and Southern Africa), ECCAS (Central Africa) and the East African Community (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania). The recent tensions between China and the USA benefited the country, which developed its production of rare earth.

Burundi's trade balance is structurally negative (-496 million USD in 2018, World Bank), a trend which should continue in the coming years. This situation is mainly due the country's large imports of manufactured goods and oil, its poor manufacturing sector and a lack of diversity in the tertiary sector. In 2020, Burundi exported goods for 162 million USD, while its imports of goods amounted to 909 million USD. In 2018, it imported 216 million USD worth of service, while it exported services for 24 million USD (WTO, latest data available). In 2020, imports of goods and services increased by 9% compared to 2019, while exports decreased by 10% (World Bank). In 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and weak global demand, exports decreased while imports of medical products increased, deteriorating the trade balance. Higher commodity prices, including oil prices, as well as the depreciation of the Burundian franc are expected to weight on the import bill in 2022.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 7557938879091,030
Exports of Goods (million USD) 172180180162156
Imports of Services (million USD) 206216000
Exports of Services (million USD) 1724000
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 131917314
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 3211-0-1518
Trade Balance (million USD) -475-496n/an/an/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 2227292729
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 1621242224
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 66555

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
Democratic Republic of Congo 23.9%
Belgium 12.2%
Pakistan 8.6%
Tanzania 5.8%
Oman 5.3%
See More Countries 44.2%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
China 18.0%
Saudi Arabia 13.4%
Tanzania 9.2%
India 8.2%
United Arab Emirates 8.0%
See More Countries 43.2%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

0.1 bn USD of products exported in 2021
Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated;...Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated; coffee husks and skins; coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion 24.8%
Tea, whether or not flavouredTea, whether or not flavoured 21.3%
Niobium, tantalum, vanadium or zirconium ores and...Niobium, tantalum, vanadium or zirconium ores and concentrates 12.1%
Beer made from maltBeer made from malt 5.7%
Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of...Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes 5.4%
See More Products 30.6%
1.0 bn USD of products imported in 2021
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 17.8%
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) 4.8%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 3.9%
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) 2.9%
Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel,...Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of >= 600 mm, cold-rolled "cold-reduced", not clad, plated or coated 2.8%
See More Products 67.8%

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 World Trade Organisation
Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Member of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

Member of African Union (AU)

Member of East African Community (EAC)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
18.68%
 
 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of World Trade Organisation
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Member of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

Member of African Union (AU)

Member of East African Community (EAC)

Useful Resources
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
Contact the Ministry of Trade and Industry
 
 
 

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Latest Update: February 2023