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ANNUAL EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS REVIEW OF THE GAMBIA, 2017

Contents

1. OVERVIEW OF THE GAMBIA’S EXTERNAL TRADE.......................................................2

2. DIRECTION OF IMPORTS..................................................................................................... 5

2.1 The EU.................................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 ECOWAS................................................................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Asia......................................................................................................................................................... 8

3. DIRECTION OF EXPORTS................................................................................................... 11

3.1 ECOWAS................................................................................................................................................ 12

3.2 Asia....................................................................................................................................................... 13

3.3 The EU.................................................................................................................................................. 14

3.4 The Americas........................................................................................................................................ 15

3.5 Main domestically exported products....................................................................................................16

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1. Overview of The Gambia’s External Trade

The Gambia’s external trade for the year 2017 indicates an increase in total trade compared to 2016. The value of total trade increased by 31.2 percent from D20.3 billion in 2016 to D26.6 billion in 2017. This increase is mainly attributed to the increase in imports which increased from D16.3 billion in 2016 to D25.6 billion in 2017.

The value of total exports decreased from D3.9 billion to D1.0 billion. This decrease in total exports is a result of the decrease in both domestic exports and re-exports. The value of domestic exports decreased from D754.7 million to D626.2 million whilst the value of re-exports decreased from D3.2 billion to D408.5 million.

The Gambia’s trade deficit totaled D24.5 billion in 2017.

Table 1.1: Summary of The Gambia’s External Trade in D’000

Trade 2014 2015 2016 2017 % ChangeTotal trade 19,772,215 20,943,406 20,314,438 26,654,402 31.2%Imports 16,105,573 17,164,892 16,355,001 25,619,519 56.6%Domestic exports 656,713 616,670 754,731 626,285 -17.0%Re-exports 3,666,642 3,161,845 3,204,706 *408,598* -87.3%Total exports 4,323,355 3,778,514 3,959,437 1,034,882 -73.9%Trade balance -11,782,218 -13,386,378 -12,395,564 -24,584,637 -98.3%

Source: MOTIE Trade Information Centre

Note: The average exchange rate per US Dollar was D46.40 in 2017.

* This sharp decrease in the value of re-exports is attributed to the absence of a functioning collection and reporting mechanism following the replacement of the defunct Gambia National Transport Control Association*.

Given that the average share of re-exports as a percentage of total trade for the period 2014 – 2016 was 16.4 percent, it can be assumed that the share of re-exports as a percentage of total trade for 2017 is much closer to this number.

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Figure 1: Import and export flows, 2014 – 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 -

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

ImportsTotal exports

(D'0

00)

Figure 2: Monthly imports, 2017

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

(D'0

00)

The average monthly value of imports was D2.1 billion with the highest value recorded in December 2017 at D3.8 billion whilst the lowest value was recorded in January 2017 at D1.1 billion.

Table 1.2: Monthly domestic exports and re-exports (D’000)

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Month Domestic exports Re-exports Total exportsJanuary 51,580 146,477 198,058February 67,917 8,797 76,715March 190,708 338,437 529,145April 117,072 10,330 127,402May 56,789 8,576 65,366June 131,337 606,259 737,597July 21,725 437,104 458,829August 22,290 360,532 382,822September 49,560 277,937 327,497October 17,211 282,899 300,110November 19,428 635,944 655,372December 9,112 91,414 100,526Total 754,731 3,204,706 3,959,437


Re-exports continue to account for the majority of total exports with the highest value recorded in November at D635.9 million followed by June and July at D606.2 million and D437.1 million respectively. Mali was the main destination for all three months and the main re-exported products were textiles, footwear, dairy products, sugar and sugar confectionery, and miscellaneous edible preparations.

The performance of domestic exports was highest in March at D190.7 million followed by June and April at D131.3 million and D117 million respectively.

Figure 3: Monthly domestic exports and re-exports, 2017

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

ExportsRe-exports(D

'000

)


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2. Direction of Imports

The value of imports increased by 56.6 percent from D16.3 billion in 2016 to D25.6 billion in 2017. The main imported products were petroleum products, cement and related products, rice, vehicles and spare parts, edible oil, and sugar.

Asia, ECOWAS and the EU continued to be the main sources of Gambian imports, representing 87 percent of total imports. The share of imports from ECOWAS increased twofold from 22 percent in 2016 to 47 percent in 2017 making it the main source of imports. Petroleum products, and cement and related products mainly from Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal represented 92.8 percent of total imports from ECOWAS.

Table 2.1 and figure 4 show the direction and share of imports by region.

Table 2.1: Direction of imports by region (D'000)

Region 2016 2017 % ChangeECOWAS 3,517,518 12,024,064 241.8%Asia 4,372,269 5,851,953 33.8%EU 5,282,042 4,510,192 -14.6%Americas 2,513,436 2,506,738 -0.3%Others 669,737 726,572 8.5%Total Imports 16,355,001 25,619,519 56.6%


Figure 4: Share of imports by region, 2016- 2017

ECOWAS 47%

Asia 23%

EU 17%

Amer-icas 10%

Others 3%

Share of imports by region - 2017

2.1 The EU

The value of imports from the EU decreased by 14.6 percent from D5.2 billion in 2016 to D4.5 billion in 2017. Consequently, the share of imports from the EU decreased from 32 percent in 2016 to 17 percent in 2017.

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EU32%

Asia 27%

ECOWAS22%

Americas15%

Others4%

Share of imports by region - 2016

The main imported products from the EU were vehicles and spare parts, cement and related products, and machinery and mechanical appliances and parts. These products mainly originated from Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany represented 83 percent of the total value of imports from the EU and 14.6 percent of total imports.

Table 2.2: Direction of imports from the EU by country in 2017

Country CIF Value (D'000) As % of imports from the EU

Spain 1,393,815 30.9Netherlands 737,192 16.3Belgium 601,756 13.3United Kingdom 534,345 11.8Germany 484,422 10.7Italy 213,903 4.7France 212,698 4.7Poland 112,258 2.5Sweden 73,259 1.6Denmark 64,954 1.4Others 81,591 1.8Total EU 4,510,192 100.0


Table 2.3: Main imported products from the EU in 2017

Products CIF Value (D'000)

As % of imports from the EU

Vehicles and spare parts 1,279,945 28.4Cement and related products 782,034 17.3Machinery and mechanical appliances and parts 383,388 8.5Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 244,052 5.4Products of the milling industry 238,923 5.3Dairy products 167,646 3.7Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 162,495 3.6Glass and glassware 158,187 3.5Animal or vegetable fats and oils 105,047 2.3Pharmaceutical products 98,331 2.2


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2.2 ECOWAS

In 2017, ECOWAS was the main source of Gambian imports, overtaking the EU. The value of imports from ECOWAS increased significantly from D3.5 billion in 2016 to D12 billion in 2017.

Petroleum products, and cement and related products mainly from Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal represented 92.6 percent of total imports from ECOWAS and 43.4 percent of total imports.

The value of imports of petroleum products increased from D2.7 billion in 2016 to D7.2 billion in 2017, and the value of imports of cement and related products increased from D217 million in 2016 to D3.8 billion in 2017. The increase in the importation of cement and related products is due to the booming construction industry in The Gambia, and the reduction in the import duty on cement.

Table 2.4: Direction of imports from ECOWAS by country in 2017Country CIF Value

(D'000)As% of imports from ECOWAS

Cote d'Ivoire 7,264,989 60.42Senegal 4,654,199 38.71Nigeria 29,936 0.25Sierra Leone 27,594 0.23Guinea 23,027 0.19Ghana 17,600 0.15Togo 3,161 0.03Mali 1,523 0.01Others 2,035 0.02Total ECOWAS 12,024,064 100


Table 2.5: Main imported products from ECOWAS in 2017


As % of importsfrom ECOWAS

Petroleum products 7,290,546 60.6Cement and related products 3,842,352 32.0Machinery and mechanical appliances and parts 484,874 4.0Vehicles and spare parts 103,139 0.9Wood and articles of wood 41,586 0.3Tobacco products 37,296 0.3Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 24,598 0.2Plastics products 17,715 0.1Prepared animal fodder 12,711 0.1Animal or vegetable fats and oils 12,654 0.1


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2.3 Asia

The value of imports from Asia increased by 33.8 percent from D4.3 billion in 2016 to D5.8 billion in 2017. However, the share of imports from Asia as a percentage of total imports decreased from 27 percent in 2016 to 23 percent in 2017 because of the significant increase in the share of imports from ECOWAS.

Rice and edible oil represented 45.2 percent of total imports from Asia, and 10.3 percent of total imports. China continued to be main source of imports from Asia, representing 36.4 percent of total imports from the region.

Table 2.6: Direction of imports from Asia by country in 2017

Country CIF Value(D’000)

As % of importsfrom Asia

China 2,132,403 36.4Malaysia 860,782 14.7India 795,549 13.6Turkey 625,245 10.7Indonesia 328,794 5.6United Arab Emirates 320,082 5.5Pakistan 173,637 3.0Thailand 161,309 2.8Singapore 157,200 2.7Japan 110,541 1.9Others 186,411 3.2Total Asia 5,851,953 100


Table 2.7: Main imported products from Asia in 2017

Products CIF Value(D’000)

As % of importsfrom Asia

Rice 1,384,613 23.7Edible oil 1,260,564 21.5Textiles 272,889 4.7Products of the milling industry 272,366 4.7Iron steel 249,670 4.3Machinery and mechanical appliances and parts 230,614 3.9Wadding, felt and nonwovens 222,072 3.8Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 174,892 3.0

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Vehicles and spare parts 165,112 2.8Ceramic products 134,654 2.3Pharmaceutical products 128,722 2.2Dairy products 94,940 1.6


2.4 The Americas

The value of imports from the Americas decreased slightly by 0.3 percent from D2.51 billion in 2016 to D2.50 billion in 2017. Sugar and rice represented 68 percent of imports from the Americas and 6.6 percent of total imports. Brazil was the main source of imports from the region because of its large sugar production.

Table 2.8: Direction of imports from the Americas by country in 2017

Country CIF Value (D'000)

As % of imports from Americas

Brazil 1,604,503 64.0United States 528,929 21.1Paraguay 135,339 5.4Argentina 118,478 4.7Canada 112,395 4.5Peru 5,397 0.2Others 1,696 0.1Total Americas 2,506,738 100


Table 2.9: Main imported products from the Americas in 2017


As % of imports from Americas

Sugar 1,115,940 44.5Rice 589,641 23.5Meat and edible meat offal 227,824 9.1Products of the milling industry 218,439 8.7Vehicles and spare parts 144,525 5.8Animal or vegetable fats and oils 57,662 2.3Paper and paperboard 42,858 1.7Machinery and mechanical appliances 14,803 0.6Furniture and fittings 12,027 0.5Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 8,932 0.4Preparations of cereals 8,771 0.3Worn clothing and worn textile 7,471 0.3Dairy products 6,157 0.2


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Table 3: Top 20 main imported products, 2017

Products CIF Value (D’000) As % of total importsPetroleum products 7,399,380 28.9Cement and related products 4,689,261 18.3

Rice 2,036,79

4 8.0

Vehicles and spare parts 1,720,65

0 6.7Edible oil 1,462,985 5.7

Sugars 1,161,98

3 4.5

Machinery and mechanical appliances 1,126,59

4 4.4

Products of the milling industry 947,60

6 3.7

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 472,22

5 1.8

Meat and edible meat offal 320,06

5 1.3

Dairy products 311,17

5 1.2

Textiles 284,01

2 1.1

Iron and steel 278,96

8 1.1

Pharmaceutical products 236,72

2 0.9

Wadding, felt and nonwovens 224,58

1 0.9

Edible vegetables certain roots and tubers 219,91

6 0.9

Ceremic products 196,56

6 0.8

Glass and glassware 181,74

8 0.7

Paper and paperboard 156,78

4 0.6Source: MOTIE Trade Information Centre

3. Direction of Exports

The value of total exports decreased by 73.8 percent from D3.9 billion in 2016 to D1 billion in 2017. This decrease in total exports is due to the absence of accurate data on re-exports,

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which accounts for the majority of The Gambia’s total exports, and the decrease in domestic exports by 17 percent from D754.7 million in 2016 to D626.2 million in 2017.

Vietnam was the top destination for Gambian exports in 2017, led by sales of groundnuts valued at D340.8 million, and fish and fishery products at D135 million.

Table 3.1 and figure 5 show the direction and share of exports by region.

Table 3.1: Direction of exports by region (D’000)

Region 2016 2017 % ChangeAsia 639,548 548,347 -14.2%

ECOWAS 3,226,858 395,990 -87.7%

EU 76,394 56,026 -26.6%Americas 5,276 16,104 205.2%Others 11,361 18,416 62%

Total Exports 3,959,437 1,034,882 -73.8%


Figure 5: Share of exports by region, 2016- 2017

Asia 53%ECOWAS 38%

EU 5%Americas 2% Others 2%

Share of total exports by region - 2017

3.1 ECOWAS

The value of exports to ECOWAS decreased significantly from D3.2 billion in 2016 to D395.9 million in 2017. This decrease is a result of the absence of accurate data on re-exports which accounts for the majority of total exports to the region.

Mali, Guinea Bissau and Senegal were the main destinations for Gambian exports, representing 97.1 percent of exports to the region. The main re-exported products were dairy products, textiles, sugar and sugar confectionery, and footwears.

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ECOWAS81%

EU2% Asia

16%

Americas 0%

Others0%

Share of total exports by region - 2016

Tables 3.2 and 3.3 show the direction of exports to ECOWAS by country and the main re-exported products.

Table 3.2: Direction of exports to ECOWAS by country in 2017

Country FOB Value (D'000)

As % of exports to ECOWAS

Mali 278,623 70.4Guinea Bissau 95,060 24.0Senegal 10,528 2.7Guinea 7,853 2.0Sierra Leone 1,134 0.3Liberia 904 0.2Others 1,888 0.5Total ECOWAS 395,990 100


Table 3.3: Main re-exported products to ECOWAS in 2017

Products FOB Value (D'000)

As % of re-exports to ECOWAS

Dairy products 103,998 25.5Textiles 68,172 16.7Sugar and sugar confectionery 56,249 13.8Footwears 53,138 13.0Miscellaneous edible preparations 32,335 7.9Preparations of cereals 27,799 6.8Electrical machinery and equipment and parts 15,000 3.7Vehicles and spare parts 13,374 3.3Coffee, tea, mat and spices 11,533 2.8Machinery and mechanical appliances 1,709 0.4Articles of iron and steel 1,436 0.4


3.2 Asia

The value of exports to Asia decreased by 14.2 percent from D639.5 million in 2016 to D548.3 million in 2017 because of the decrease in the value of groundnut exports from D427.9 million in 2016 to D340.8 million in 2017.

However, despite this decrease, groundnuts represented 62.2 percent of exports to Asia, and 54.4 percent of total domestic exports. Vietnam continued to be main market for Gambian exports, representing 71.7 percent of total exports to the region.

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Tables 3.4 and 3.5 show the direction of exports to Asia and the main exported products.

Table 3.4: Direction of exports to Asia by country in 2017

Country FOB Value (D'000)

As % of exports to Asia

Vietnam 393,394 71.7China 52,561 9.6India 52,419 9.6Korea, Republic of 35,530 6.5Korea, Democratic People's Rep. of 7,878 1.4Israel 2,062 0.4United Arab Emirates 1,428 0.3Taiwan, Province of China 1,099 0.2Others 1,976 0.4Total Asia 548,347 100


Table 3.5: Main exported products to Asia in 2017

Products FOB Value(D'000) As % of exports to Asia

Groundnuts 340,859 62.2Fish and fishery products 79,094 14.4Cashew nuts 64,658 11.8Wood and articles of wood 49,929 9.1Flours, meals and pellets of fish 7,627 1.4Edible oil 2,928 0.5Worn clothing 1,009 0.2Iron and steel 484 0.1


3.3 The EU

The value of exports to the EU decreased by 26.6 percent from D76.3 million in 2016 to D56 million in 2017 as Gambian exporters continue to shun the EU market’s stringent market requirements.

Fish and fishery products represented 82.5 percent of exports to the EU, but only 7.3 percent of total domestic exports. The Netherlands, Spain and Italy were the main markets for Gambian exports, representing 82.3 percent of total exports to the region.

Tables 3.6 and 3.7 show the direction of exports to the EU and the main exported products.

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Table 3.6: Direction of exports to the EU by country in 2017

Country FOB Value(D'000)

As % of exports to the EU

Netherlands 17,812 31.8Spain 15,152 27.0Italy 13,180 23.5United Kingdom 3,574 6.4Portugal 2,061 3.7Belgium 1,722 3.1France 1,647 2.9Others 876 1.6Total EU 56,026 100


Table 3.7: Main exported products to the EU in 2017

Products FOB Value(D'000)

As % of exports to the EU

Fish and fishery products 46,226 82.5Printed books and newspapers 3,196 5.7Preparations of meat of fish 1,012 1.8Wood and articles of wood 538 1.0Cashew nuts 502 0.9Groundnuts 427 0.8Other made up textile articles (worn clothing) 347 0.6


3.4 The Americas

The value of exports to the Americas increased from D5.2 million in 2016 to D16.1 million in 2017. The United States was the only market for Gambian exports, and only four products were exported – groundnut paste, other made up textile articles (worn clothing), fish and fishery products, and textiles (locally made). Groundnut paste represented more than half (56.1 percent) of exports the United States.

Tables 3.8 and 3.9 show the direction of exports to the Americas and the main exported products.

Table 3.8: Direction of exports to the Americas by country in 2017

Country FOB Value As % of exports

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(D'000) to the AmericasUnited States 16,104 100


Table 3.9: Main exported products to the Americas in 2017

ProductsFOB Value(D'000)

As % of exports to the Americas

Groundnut paste 9,039 56.1Other made up textile articles (worn clothing) 2,621 16.3Fish and fishery products 792 4.9Textiles (locally made) 278 1.7


3.5 Main domestically exported products

In summary, groundnuts (55.6 percent), fish and fishery products (21.6 percent), and cashew nuts (10.6 percent) continue to be The Gambia’s main domestic exports. These three products combined represented 87.8 percent of total domestic exports.

Table 4: Main domestically exported products in 2017

Products CIF Value(D'000)

As % of total exports

Groundnut 348,165 55.6Fish and fishery products 135,066 21.6Cashew nuts 66,705 10.6Wood and articles of wood 50,681 8.1Flour, meal and pellettes of fish 8,764 1.4Edible oil 6,939 1.1Printed books and newspapers 3,196 0.5Preparations of meat 1,029 0.2Soap and detergents 800 0.1Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 774 0.1Miscellaneous edible preparation 762 0.1Iron and steel 555 0.1


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