Togo flag Togo: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Togo

Foreign Trade in Figures

In Togo, foreign trade represents 58% of the GDP, according to the World Bank’s latest available data. The country has been a member of the WTO since 1995. Key challenges to trade include certain public monopolies and customs procedures. Duties applied in the country are higher than in neighboring countries (with an average rate of 12.1%). However, Togo has developed a transport infrastructure network, which has enabled it to improve its position as a regional hub. Togo's main exports are phosphates, motorcycles, plastic materials, beauty products, cement, cotton, petroleum oils and palm oil; and main imports include petroleum oils and products, motorcycles, medicaments, polymers of ethylene, palm oil, cement, electrical energy, vehicles, foodstuffs and machinery. Main exports destinations include Burkina Faso (14.3% of total exports), Mali, Benin, Ghana, Niger, Ivory Coast and India; while imports come essentially from China (19.7% of total imports), France, India, Japan, Ghana, Malaysia and Spain (Comtrade, 2021).

Togo’s trade balance is structurally in deficit, a trend that is expected to continue due to the high oil bill and purchases of capital goods. In 2021, total exports increased to USD 1.35 billion (from USD 1 billion in 2020), while total imports increased to USD 2.63 billion (from USD 2.17 billion in 2020) (WTO). Togo’s imports of services increased to USD 464 million (from USD 407 million in 2020), while export of services increased to USD 612 million (from USD 451 million in 2020) (WTO).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20182019202020212022
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,1162,0912,2522,4962,666
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,0801,0551,2071,3321,443
Imports of Services (million USD) 465449438445464
Exports of Services (million USD) 622610514570548

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 58.056.756.255.259.8
Trade Balance (million USD) -782-757-744n/an/a
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -626-596-668n/an/a
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.13.11.66.95.1
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 0.83.46.55.3-1.1
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 33.332.532.532.034.9
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 24.624.223.723.225.0

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 4.66.45.88.16.4
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 5.04.65.57.57.2

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Togo is a member of ECOWAS - Economic Community of West African States, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and WTO.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
India 17.0%
Burkina Faso 12.4%
Benin 9.4%
Ivory Coast 8.4%
Mali 7.5%
See More Countries 45.3%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
China 19.8%
France 8.9%
India 6.1%
Nigeria 4.4%
Ghana 4.1%
See More Countries 56.7%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

1.4 bn USD of products exported in 2022
Natural calcium phosphates and natural aluminium...Natural calcium phosphates and natural aluminium calcium phosphates, natural and phosphatic chalk 22.2%
Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods,...Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics 7.7%
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 6.9%
Soya beans, whether or not brokenSoya beans, whether or not broken 5.7%
Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations...Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin, incl. sunscreen or suntan preparations (excl. medicaments); manicure or pedicure preparations 5.6%
See More Products 51.9%
2.8 bn USD of products imported in 2022
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 5.4%
Polymers of ethylene, in primary formsPolymers of ethylene, in primary forms 3.9%
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) 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) 3.5%
Motorcycles, incl. mopeds, and cycles fitted with...Motorcycles, incl. mopeds, and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor, with or without side-cars; side-cars 2.9%
See More Products 80.5%

Source: Comtrade, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

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

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: March 2024