The first platform of international trade in Egypt
Register here  |  Forgotten password?

Home > Country profiles > Trade Profile

flag Gabon Gabon: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign trade represents 85% of the country's GDP. Customs duties are relatively high, which limits economic diversification. Compared to non-agriculture products, agricultural products are subject to heavy taxes.  Some other non-tariff barriers also exist, aiming to protect the local industries. 

The lack of transparency in the legislative system, the market monopoly in most of the sectors and the poor quality of infrastructures constitute the main reasons hindering the development of foreign trade.

Gabon has a very rich subsoil and exports more than it imports, which creates a substantial trade surplus, a trend which should continue in the cominy years.

The main trading partners of the country are the United States, the European Union and the CEMAC (Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa, website in French).

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20062007200820092010
Imports of Goods (million USD) 1,7252,1572,5912,2002,500
Exports of Goods (million USD) 5,4506,3099,5065,5008,400
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,2321,4551,6321,279-
Exports of Services (million USD) 148168195172-
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 16133-39
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -1150-53
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 9495998684
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3233323431
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 6262675352

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank - Last Available Data.

Return to top

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2009
United States 59.0%
China 8.0%
Spain 5.3%
France 4.6%
Malaysia 4.0%
See More Countries 19.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2009
France 32.9%
Belgium 15.7%
United States 7.1%
Italy 5.1%
China 4.9%
See More Countries 34.2%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2009
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 81.2%
Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark...Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared (excl. rough-cut wood for walking sticks, umbrellas, tool shafts and the like; wood in the form of railway sleepers; wood cut into boards or beams, etc.) 7.0%
Manganese ores and concentrates, incl. ferruginous...Manganese ores and concentrates, incl. ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates, with a manganese content of >= 20%, calculated on the dry weight "ecsc" 2.9%
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 2.0%
Sheets for veneering, incl. those obtained by...Sheets for veneering, incl. those obtained by slicing laminated wood, for plywood or for other similar laminated wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end-jointed, of a thickness of <= 6 mm 1.8%
See More Products 5.0%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2009
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 6.3%
Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of...Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steel (excl. products of cast iron) 5.6%
Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges...Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns", of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. prefabricated buildings of heading 9406) 3.8%
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%
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) 2.7%
See More Products 78.1%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import export flows

Return to top

Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Member of African Union (AU)
Member of South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
19.54%
 

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes

 
Useful Resources



Egyptian Embassy in Gabon
Immeuble Floria 1 - Boulevard de la Mer -Batterie IV, - En Face De L'Hotel Dialogue - 3 eme Etage
4240 Libreville
Phone: (+241) 732538- 738416
Fax: (+241)732519
Contact the Embassy via Email.

National Organization of Intellectual Property
You can contact the Center of Industrial Property of Gabon by Email.
 

Return to top

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

 
 
Learn more about How to Export to Gabon on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.
 

© Export Entreprises SA, All Rights Reserved.
Last Updates: January 2012

Copyright 2011 © Crédit Agricole Egypt
CA Egypt website  |  Sitemap  |  Terms and Conditions  |  FAQ  |  Contact us  |  Customer Support 19191
Print
Download in PDF format