Benin's exports to ECOWAS increased in first quarter of 2020
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Exports of Beninese products to countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) increased by 13.7 per cent during the first quarter of this year, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) said here Tuesday.
"Benin's exports to these ECOWAS client countries increased by 13.7% in the first quarter of 2020, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.
“Exports are estimated at 13.9 billion CFA francs (175,843.6 tons) in the first quarter of 2020 against 12.2 billion CFA francs (107,858.7 tons) in the previous quarter," the INSAE said.
Niger, which accounts for 28.8 per cent of sales of products abroad, is the leading importer of products from Benin.
These include hydraulic cement (including unpulverized cement known as clinkers), even coloured, for 2.4 billion F CFA (51,681.0 tons); "cotton seeds" worth 0.3 billion F CFA (4,474.3 tons); and "wheat or meslin flours" worth 0. 2 billion CFA francs (1,216.0 tons).
The other products, in terms of re-exports, are "other tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (for example, welded, riveted, stapled or simply closely-spaced), of iron or steel" worth 0.1 billion CFA francs (390.2 tons).
Second on the list is Burkina Faso, which accounted for 23.9 per cent of sales of Beninese products abroad. The country purchased goods such as hydraulic cement (including unpulverized cement known as clinkers), even coloured, for 1.8 billion F CFA (51,200.0 tons), "cotton seeds" worth 1.2 billion F CFA (38,322.81 tons), food waste and prepared animal feed, worth 0.2 billion CFA francs (2,149.8 tons), and "iron or steel wire rod" worth 0.1 billion CFA francs (156.0 tons).
Mali occupies the third place and accounts for 14.5 per cent of the value of sales of Beninese products abroad, mainly petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude oils) and preparations, which contain by weight 70 per cent or more of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals and which constitute the basic element for an amount of 2.0 billion F CFA (942.2 tons) in terms of re-exports and "juices of any other fruit (other than citrus fruit) or vegetable; mixtures of fruit or vegetable juices" for 0.1 billion F CFA (337.5 tons).
Togo ranked fourth in the ECOWAS region in the first quarter of 2020, accounting for 12.0 per cent of the value of Beninese exports.
The main products exported to that country are hydraulic cement (including unpulverized cement known as clinkers), whether or not coloured, worth CFAF 0.3 billion (6,365.0 tons), "petroleum or bituminous mineral oils (excluding crude oils) and preparations, which contain by weight 70 per cent or more of petroleum or bituminous mineral oils and of which these oils constitute the basic element" worth CFAF 0.2 billion (555.2 tons), "food preparations" for 0.2 billion CFA francs (360.0 tons), "water-based varnishes and paints; plastics in solution; prepared water-based pigments of a kind used for leather finishing; pigments (including metallic powders and flakes) dispersed in non-aqueous media, in liquid or paste form" for 0.2 billion CFA francs (255.0 tons) and "medicines" for 0.1 billion CFA francs (2.6 tons).
Nigeria ranks fifth, accounting for 10.1 per cent of the value of Beninese products sold abroad.
The large neighbour to the east purchased from Benin mainly "cotton oil and its fractions" for 0.9 billion F CFA (1,522.9 tons), "oil seeds and oleaginous fruits" worth 0.1 billion (1.2 tons), and "hydraulic cement (including unpulverized cement known as clinkers), even coloured, worth 0.1 billion (2,300.0 tons).
-0- PANA IT/BEH/MTA/RA 25Aug2020
