flag Niger Niger: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Niger is open to foreign trade, which represented 36% of the country's GDP in 2020 (World Bank). The country aims to implement the trade policy of the WAEMU and is integrated into the generalized system of preferences (GSP) of the EU. Customs duties are not very high. Production costs, limited credit facilities and import-export activities through the informal sector have limited the development of international trade. The country mainly exports gold, uranium, petroleum products, palm oil and food. The main imported products are rice, air vehicle parts, biological preparations and medicines, ammunition and weapons, palm oil, sugar and vehicles (Comtrade, 2020).

Niger's main trading partners are the European Union (France being both the country's first largest supplier and client), China (second supplier), Nigeria, the United States, Burkina Faso and Belgium.

Niger's trade balance is in deficit. In 2019, the trade balance deficit reached USD 1.2 billion (World Bank). In 2020, Niger exported USD 998 billion in goods, and imported USD 2.38 billion. Exports of services reached USD 206 million while imports amounted to USD 1.16 billion (WTO). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global trade volumes decreased sharply. In the medium term, despite high commodity prices, the trade deficit is expected to remain high due to the implementation of large projects with high import content.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 1,9522,2812,3262,3782,741
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,2061,2021,1269981,211
Imports of Services (million USD) 9711,0781,0611,1571,029
Exports of Services (million USD) 204225237206164
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 129637
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 15-41-67
Trade Balance (million USD) -748-1,079-1,200-1,351n/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 4038383638
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 2626262627
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 1312111010

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
France 23.2%
Mali 21.7%
Burkina Faso 13.2%
Nigeria 9.4%
United Arab Emirates 9.2%
See More Countries 23.3%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
China 19.4%
France 15.5%
Nigeria 8.1%
India 7.9%
United States 6.4%
See More Countries 42.7%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

0.5 bn USD of products exported 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 37.8%
Uranium or thorium ores and concentratesUranium or thorium ores and concentrates 30.1%
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 12.6%
Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other...Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, fresh or chilled 4.6%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 1.9%
See More Products 13.1%
2.1 bn USD of products imported in 2021
RiceRice 14.0%
Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801...Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801 or 8802, n.e.s. 6.6%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 3.6%
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%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 2.8%
See More Products 70.0%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Member of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)

Member of African Union (AU)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country's commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
12.84%
 
 
 
 

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Latest Update: February 2023