Cape Verde Major Exports

Cape Verde, an island nation located off the west coast of Africa, has a small but dynamic economy heavily reliant on international trade. Despite its limited natural resources, Cape Verde has managed to develop a diversified export sector that includes agricultural products, fisheries, and services. The country’s exports are primarily directed toward Europe and other African nations, with a growing emphasis on enhancing trade relations with international partners.

Fish and Seafood Exports

Fish

Fishing is one of the most significant sectors in Cape Verde’s economy, particularly for its exports. The country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Atlantic Ocean provides rich marine resources, making fish and seafood products a cornerstone of its export industry. Cape Verde’s fish exports include tuna, octopus, and various other seafood species. Tuna, in particular, is one of the most valuable export commodities, with much of it being canned or processed before shipment.

• Key Export Destinations: The European Union, particularly Spain and Portugal, as well as Japan, are major markets for Cape Verdean fish exports.
• Export Characteristics: A significant portion of Cape Verde’s fish exports are processed into canned goods or frozen products to meet international quality standards.

Trade Value:

• Fish exports contribute approximately $35 million USD annually to Cape Verde’s economy.

Other Seafood Products

Cape Verde also exports other types of seafood such as lobster, shellfish, and squid. These products, while smaller in volume compared to fish, represent high-value commodities in international markets, particularly for gourmet markets in Europe and North America.

• Key Export Destinations: Primarily the European Union, with notable demand from Portugal, Spain, and France.
• Export Characteristics: The export of seafood is largely fresh or frozen, and the quality is generally high due to the pristine waters around the islands.

Trade Value:

• Other seafood exports account for around $10 million USD annually.

Agricultural Exports

Salt

Cape Verde has long been known for its production of high-quality sea salt, particularly harvested from natural salt ponds on its islands. Salt production is a significant part of the agricultural sector and is used both domestically and for export. The country’s salt is primarily exported to neighboring countries and to markets in Europe, where it is used for industrial, agricultural, and culinary purposes.

• Key Export Destinations: Neighboring West African countries, as well as the European Union, particularly Portugal.
• Export Characteristics: Cape Verdean salt is mostly exported in bulk form, although some specialty salts are packaged for gourmet markets.

Trade Value:

• Salt exports bring in approximately $12 million USD annually.

Fruits and Vegetables

Despite its small land area and challenging agricultural conditions, Cape Verde exports a variety of fruits and vegetables, including bananas, papayas, and tomatoes. These products are grown in the more fertile regions of the islands, where farming has been developed using both traditional and modern techniques. The export of fresh produce is an important source of income for local farmers.

• Key Export Destinations: Most agricultural exports go to European countries, particularly Portugal, and other West African nations.
• Export Characteristics: Fresh fruit and vegetables, often grown through sustainable farming practices, are the primary exports.

Trade Value:

• Agricultural exports, including fruits and vegetables, contribute around $8 million USD annually.

Manufactured Goods and Services

Textiles and Garments

While the textile and garment industry is not as developed as in other regions, Cape Verde has started to export small quantities of clothing, including garments made from locally produced fabrics. The country’s clothing exports are concentrated on casual and traditional wear, with a focus on both quality and unique designs.

• Key Export Destinations: European countries, especially Portugal, as well as the United States.
• Export Characteristics: The textile exports are mostly handmade or small-batch productions, often highlighting Cape Verde’s culture and craftsmanship.

Trade Value:

• Textile and garment exports account for roughly $5 million USD annually.

Tourism Services (Indirect Export)

Tourism is a significant contributor to Cape Verde’s export economy, though it is not a traditional physical export. However, income generated from international tourists visiting the islands, including services such as accommodation, transportation, and leisure activities, plays a major role in the country’s overall export sector. The government has made substantial investments in tourism infrastructure to attract visitors, especially from Europe.

• Key Export Destinations: Most tourists come from European countries, particularly Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom.
• Export Characteristics: Tourism-related exports are primarily in the form of services such as hotel stays, transportation, and tours.

Trade Value:

• The tourism sector indirectly contributes approximately $100 million USD annually to Cape Verde’s economy, making it one of the largest contributors to its export income.

Energy Exports

Electricity (Renewable Energy)

Cape Verde is focusing increasingly on renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power. The country’s investment in green energy has positioned it as a potential exporter of electricity to neighboring countries in West Africa. As part of its regional energy integration strategy, Cape Verde has developed cross-border electricity transmission links with Senegal and other countries in the region.

• Key Export Destinations: Primarily neighboring countries in West Africa, especially Senegal.
• Export Characteristics: The export of electricity is in the form of grid connections that allow Cape Verde to provide renewable power during times of surplus generation.

Trade Value:

• Electricity exports are still emerging but are valued at approximately $5 million USD annually.

Miscellaneous Exports

Handicrafts and Artisanal Goods

Cape Verde also exports a variety of handicrafts and artisanal products, including jewelry, pottery, and woven items. These items are often handmade using traditional methods, and they serve as both cultural representations and attractive products for tourists and international buyers.

• Key Export Destinations: Europe, particularly Portugal, and the United States.
• Export Characteristics: These products are sold as souvenirs or unique pieces of Cape Verdean culture, often sold at premium prices due to their craftsmanship.

Trade Value:

• Handicraft exports contribute approximately $2 million USD annually to Cape Verde’s export economy.

Cape Verde’s export economy, though small compared to larger nations, is growing steadily, driven by fisheries, agriculture, and emerging sectors like renewable energy and tourism. The country’s exports are diversifying, and its strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean offers both challenges and opportunities for global trade, particularly with Europe and West Africa.

Top Products Exported by Cape Verde

Market Value: 131 (millions) – Last Updated: June, 2024

Rank	Product	Trade Value (thousands)	Share (%)	Growth (% 5yr)
1	Frozen Fish	18,063	13.77	2,732.74
2	Aircraft Engines	5,017	3.83	-15.54
3	Photocopy Apparatus	4,943	3.77	954,233.01
4	Footwear Components	3,064	2.34	-19.01
5	Non-Knit Mens & Boys Suits	2,844	2.17	203.81
6	Knitted Mens & Boys Underpants	1,827	1.39	27.70
7	Veneer Sheets	1,678	1.28	0.00
8	Electric Motors & Generators	1,619	1.23	16,429.61
9	Knitted T-Shirts	765	0.58	901.53
10	Alcoholic Beverages	446	0.34	308.90
11	Shell Fish	441	0.34	766.97
12	Prepared & Preserved Fish	298	0.23	0.00
13	Computers, Printers & Storage Units	289	0.22	603.02
14	Electronic Integrated Circuits	285	0.22	0.00
15	Leather Footwear	237	0.18	178.95
16	Non-Knit Womens & Girls Suits	208	0.16	-86.64
17	Passenger Vehicles	170	0.13	22.36
18	Seats & Parts	168	0.13	10,892.78
19	Handbags, Wallets & Travel Goods	129	0.10	165.56
20	Taps, Cocks & Valves	120	0.09	6,479.71
21	Coffee	118	0.09	267.10
22	Leather Apparel & Accessories	117	0.09	138.97
23	Seamed Hollow Tubes & Pipes	115	0.09	3,740.15
24	Insulated Wire & Cable	83	0.06	0.00
25	Knitted Mens & Boys Overcoats	81	0.06	0.00
26	Telephone, Fax & Switching Apparatus	79	0.06	-52.60
27	X-Ray Apparatus	77	0.06	0.00
28	Sewing Machines	77	0.06	3,811.82
29	Books	76	0.06	940.63
30	Copper Waste & Scrap	72	0.06	0.00
31	Natural Rubber	72	0.05	3,480.73
32	Ferrous Waste & Scrap	67	0.05	0.00
33	Cel Phones, Video Recorders & Radio Transcievers	65	0.05	9,100.14
34	Knitted Womens & Girls Suits	65	0.05	-51.33
35	Knitted Babies Garments & Accessories	64	0.05	264.08
36	Knitted Sweaters	59	0.04	-47.93
37	Furniture & Parts	51	0.04	384.10
38	Woven Cotton Fabrics – > 85% < 200G/M2	51	0.04	6,920.69
39	Knitted Womens & Girls Slips	45	0.03	0.00
40	Trucks	43	0.03	354.43
41	Motor Vehicle Parts	42	0.03	32.78
42	Knitted Track Suits	42	0.03	356.77
43	Non-Knit Womens & Girls Overcoats	37	0.03	0.00
44	Diesel Engines	37	0.03	1,131.49
45	Woven Fabrics of Flax	36	0.03	5,741.01
46	Cigars & Cigarettes	34	0.03	0.00
47	Wood Sawn > 6 mm	32	0.02	0.00
48	Transformers, Converters & Power Supplies	31	0.02	-84.55
49	Specialized Electrical Machinery & Parts	31	0.02	0.00
50	Articles of Plastics	31	0.02	0.00
51	Parts For Fork Lifts, Bulldozers & Graders	31	0.02	865.86
52	Knitted Mens & Boys Suits	30	0.02	789.48
53	Waste of Paper & Paperboard	30	0.02	0.00
54	Mechanical Machinery & Parts	30	0.02	112.94
55	Engine Parts	27	0.02	680.00
56	Hand Tools	27	0.02	0.00
57	Washing Machines	25	0.02	0.00
58	Machinery For Work in Leather	25	0.02	57.48
59	Non Crude Oil	25	0.02	0.00
60	Non-Knit Mens & Boys Shirts	23	0.02	-98.33
61	Wood, Continuously Shaped (Tongued or Grooved	23	0.02	0.00
62	Knotted Carpets	22	0.02	0.00
63	Foliage	22	0.02	-16.59
64	Aluminum Waste & Scrap	21	0.02	0.00
65	Plastic Containers	19	0.01	142.66
66	Non-Knit Mens & Boys Overcoats	19	0.01	200.22
67	Computer & Office Machines Parts	19	0.01	75.92
68	Non-Adhesive Plastic Plates, Sheets & Film	18	0.01	0.00
69	Transister & Semiconductor Devices	18	0.01	534.88
70	Plastic & Rubber Footwear	18	0.01	425.41
71	Glazed Ceramic Flags & Paving	17	0.01	0.00
72	Textile Footwear	16	0.01	0.00
73	Physical Exercise Equipment	16	0.01	0.00
74	Office Machines	16	0.01	0.00
75	Articles of Wood	15	0.01	1,918.90
76	Screws, Bolts & Nuts	15	0.01	0.00
77	Instruments for Measure & Check Flow	15	0.01	598.94
78	Iron & Steel Angles & Shapes	15	0.01	661.53
79	Fresh Fish	15	0.01	19.93
80	Bread, Pastry & Cakes	14	0.01	-34.51
81	Records & Tapes	14	0.01	404.14
82	Cane Sugar	14	0.01	975.67
83	Prefabricated Buildings	14	0.01	0.00
84	Coin	13	0.01	0.00
85	Aircraft Parts	13	0.01	-97.38
86	Measuring or Checking Instruments	12	0.01	-7.80
87	Carpentry of Wood	12	0.01	0.00
88	Lamps & Lighting Fittings	12	0.01	6.14
89	Amino-Resins	11	0.01	840.88
90	Pumps For Liquids	11	0.01	-21.44
91	Plastic Tubes	11	0.01	-55.65
92	Parts For Electric Equipment	10	0.01	0.00
93	Containers For Compressed & Liquid Gas	10	0.01	-24.87
94	Seamless Iron & Steel Tubes & Pipes	10	0.01	194.44
95	Automatic Regulating & Control Instruments	9	0.01	795.82
96	Wood Packings	9	0.01	225.54
97	Molasses	9	0.01	0.00
98	Transmission Shafts, Bearings & Parts	9	0.01	365.59
99	Water Heaters	9	0.01	0.00
100	Iron & Steel Bars & Rods – HR	8	0.01	0.00
101	Machines For Testing Material	8	0.01	0.00
102	Sanitary Ware & Parts	7	0.01	0.00
103	Glass Fibers & Articles	7	0.01	0.00
104	Switches, Relays & Fuses < 1000 Volts	7	0.01	124.17
105	Parts For Machine Tools	7	0.01	868.22
106	Polyethers	7	0.01	-49.99
107	Saddlery	7	0.01	0.00
108	Cow &Horse Hides -No Hair	7	0.01	-87.69
109	Puzzles, Models & Toys	7	0.01	506.27
110	Articles of Iron & Steel	6	0.00	190.22
111	Heavy Construction Equipment	6	0.00	0.00
112	Electronic Tubes	6	0.00	0.00
113	Electric Sound & Visual Signaling Apparatus	6	0.00	0.00
114	Air & Vacuum Pumps	6	0.00	-70.02
115	Ink Jet Printers	6	0.00	0.00
116	Misc Tools	6	0.00	0.00
117	TV Receivers	6	0.00	107.87
118	Checks & Stamps	4	0.00	0.00
119	Television, Radio & Assessory Parts	4	0.00	28.69
120	Electric Storage Batteries	4	0.00	0.00
121	Worn Clothing	4	0.00	266.83
122	Medicines in Doses	4	0.00	-85.11
123	Steam Generating Boilers	4	0.00	-41.38
124	Electrical Switching Boards	4	0.00	0.00
125	Narrow Woven Fabrics	3	0.00	0.00
126	Cast Iron Articles	3	0.00	108.33
127	Stoves	3	0.00	0.00
128	Reception Apparatus For Radiotelephony	3	0.00	-91.50
129	Prepared & Preserved Meat	3	0.00	0.00
130	Mach For Making Up Pulp & Paper	3	0.00	0.00
131	Motorcycles	3	0.00	368.19
132	Knit &Lace Hats	3	0.00	0.00
133	Organic Composite Solvents & Thinners	3	0.00	0.00
134	Pens & Mechanical Pencils	3	0.00	0.00
135	Woven Fabric of Synthetic Filament Yarn	3	0.00	0.00
136	Interchange Hand & Machine Tools	3	0.00	0.00
137	Bookbinding Machinery	3	0.00	0.00
138	Radar Apparatus & Navigation	3	0.00	-97.11
139	Liquid Crystal Devices	2	0.00	0.00
140	Plastic Household Articles	2	0.00	-44.23
141	Microphones	2	0.00	0.00
142	Dried Vegetables	2	0.00	0.00
143	Articles of Aluminum	2	0.00	0.00
144	Survey Instruments	2	0.00	-20.94
145	Electric Capacitors	2	0.00	2.64
146	Food & Drink Preparation Machines	2	0.00	-28.83
147	Household Articles	2	0.00	116.56
148	Felt Garments	2	0.00	0.00
149	Machinery Parts	1	0.00	56.04
150	Molding Boxes For Metal Foundry	1	0.00	-78.25
151	Washers & Dryers	1	0.00	0.00
152	Non-Knit Womens & Girls Blouses	1	0.00	-98.75
153	Food Preparations	1	0.00	0.00
154	Postage & Revenue Stamps	1	0.00	-76.99
155	Malt Extract	1	0.00	-56.08
156	Plastic Sheets, Film & Plates	1	0.00	0.00
157	Instruments With Electric Sound Productions	1	0.00	0.00
158	Filters & Centrifuges	1	0.00	-95.20
159	Springs & Leaves For Springs	1	0.00	8.84
160	Pasta	1	0.00	0.00
161	Pulley Tackle & Hoists	1	0.00	0.00
162	Newspapers	1	0.00	0.00
163	Structures & Parts of Iron or Steel	1	0.00	-39.19
164	Containers of Transport	1	0.00	0.00
165	Fork-Lift Trucks	1	0.00	-90.94
166	Sanitary & Toiletry Paper	1	0.00	0.00
167	Solder Machines	1	0.00	0.00
168	Knitted Made-Up Clothing Accessories	1	0.00	0.00
169	Weighing Machines	1	0.00	-70.25
170	Articles of Vulcanized Rubber	1	0.00	0.00
171	Tools For Working in the Hand	1	0.00	0.00
172	Arcade, Table or Parlor Games	1	0.00	0.00
173	Hardware For Furniture, Doors & Windows	1	0.00	-60.97
174	Synthetic Sewing Threads	1	0.00	0.00
175	Dates	1	0.00	0.00
176	Electrical Resistors	1	0.00	0.00
177	Vulcanized Rubber Plates	1	0.00	-66.27
178	Organic Surface-Active Agents	1	0.00	0.00
179	Electric Ignition Equipment	1	0.00	-92.63
180	Piston Engines	1	0.00	0.00
181	Hydrometers & Thermometers	0	0.00	-83.93
182	Medicines Not in Doses	0	0.00	0.00
183	Electric Filament & Discharge Lamps	0	0.00	0.00
184	Lubricating Preparations	0	0.00	0.00
185	Calculating & Account Machines	0	0.00	0.00
186	Knives	0	0.00	-93.50
187	Slide Fasteners & Parts	0	0.00	-96.23
188	Ball & Roller Bearings & Parts	0	0.00	0.00
189	Oscilloscopes & Electrical Measuring Instruments	0	0.00	0.00
190	Electric Generating Sets & Rotary Converters	0	0.00	-88.56
191	Hand Paintings & Drawings	0	0.00	-96.78
192	Woven Fabrics of Artificial Staple Fibers	0	0.00	-95.62
193	Hand-Operated Spanners & Wrenches	0	0.00	-89.48
194	Yachts & Other Pleasure Vessels	0	0.00	-97.23
195	Non-Knit Track Suits	0	0.00	-94.20
196	Trailers	0	0.00	0.00
197	Padlocks	0	0.00	-89.67
198	Dishwashing & Packaging Machines	0	0.00	0.00
199	Refrigerators & Freezers	0	0.00	0.00
200	Pictures & Photos	0	0.00	-96.95
201	Non-Knit Womens & Girls Slips	0	0.00	-99.68
202	Knives & Blades For Machines & Appliances	0	0.00	-97.69
203	Buttons	0	0.00	-90.94
204	Knitted Garments	0	0.00	0.00
205	Clocks	0	0.00	0.00
206	Electromech Domestic Appliances	0	0.00	0.00
207	Office Paper	0	0.00	-93.33
208	Fishing Rods & Tackle	0	0.00	-99.32
209	Switching Equipment, > 1000 V	0	0.00	0.00
210	Drawing Instruments	0	0.00	0.00
211	Transmission Belts of Vulcanized Rubber	0	0.00	0.00
212	Chain & Parts	0	0.00	-99.85
213	Plastic Self-Adhesive Plates	0	0.00	-94.39
214	Umbrellas	0	0.00	0.00
215	Auxiliary Machinery For Textile Machines	0	0.00	0.00
216	Clasps, Buckles & Hooks	0	0.00	0.00
217	Soft Drinks	0	0.00	0.00
218	Bed & Table Linen	0	0.00	-99.55
219	Imitation Jewelry	0	0.00	0.00
220	Fruit & Vegetable Juice	0	0.00	0.00