Xifres de comerç exterior de Madagascar

Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign trade accounts for 49% of Madagascar’s GDP (World Bank), a country that collects a large share of its revenues in the form of customs duties, import taxes and VAT on imports. Madagascar is the 139th exporting economy in the world and the 137th importer. The country is a member of the WTO and COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and does not have significant non-tariff barriers. In addition, most products can be imported without an import license. The country mainly exports vanilla (26.1%), clothing (11.4%), raw nickel (7.3%), crustaceans (5%), titanium ores (4.9%), essential oils (3.6%), gold (3.5%) and cloves (3.35). Its main imports are petroleum oils (11.4%), rice (5.6%), medicines (3.2%), palm oil (3%), fabrics (2.3%) and motor vehicles (1.9%).

Madagascar's main customers are France (23.1% of total exports), the United States, Germany, China and the Netherlands. Its main suppliers are China (25.4% of total imports), India, France, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. Despite its abundant resources, Madagascar still struggles to channel its trade revenues into further development. Like other island states, Madagascar faces high transportation costs. The lack of well-developed infrastructure makes commercial transactions expensive, hindering private sector competitiveness. However, the country aims to improve logistics at the main ports and airports in order to improve trade.  While the European Union is by far the largest client of Malagasy products, exports to member states of North American Free Trade Agreement have received a huge boost since 2017 following a decision by the United States to reinstate Madagascar in its trade preference programme (Africa Growth and Opportunity Act).

The country's trade balance has been traditionally negative and despite a steady increase in exports, this trend is unlikely to be reversed over the medium-term as imports continue to outpace exports. In 2020, merchandise exports amounted to USD 1.99 billion, while imports reached USD 3.22 billion. Exports of services amounted to USD 626 million, and imports reached USD 650 billion (WTO). In 2020, exports of goods and services decreased by -11.7% compared to 2019 while imports increased by 6.6%. Exports of mining products, vanilla and textiles were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.