Republic of Congo Major Exports

The Republic of Congo, located in Central Africa, is a country rich in natural resources, and its economy heavily relies on exports, particularly from the oil, mineral, and agricultural sectors. The country has been striving to diversify its economy while maintaining its position as one of Africa’s leading oil producers. Major exports include crude oil, timber, minerals, and agricultural products, which play a central role in the country’s economic development.

Oil and Petroleum Products

Crude oil and petroleum products are by far the most significant export category for the Republic of Congo. The country has been an oil exporter since the early 1970s, and oil remains a cornerstone of its economy. Oil revenues contribute substantially to the government’s budget and account for the majority of the country’s export earnings.

Export Value of Oil and Petroleum Products

  • Oil exports were valued at approximately $10 billion in 2022.
  • Oil accounts for about 80% of the country’s total export value.
  • The main export destinations for Congolese oil include China, India, and the United States.

Oil production in the Republic of Congo is primarily concentrated in offshore fields in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly around the coastal areas of Pointe-Noire. Despite fluctuations in global oil prices, oil remains the dominant export and a vital source of revenue for the country.

Key Oil Products

  • Crude Oil: The majority of the Republic of Congo’s oil exports consist of crude oil, which is refined and processed in international markets.
  • Refined Petroleum: Includes products such as gasoline, diesel, and other refined petroleum derivatives used in energy and industrial applications.

The oil industry continues to be crucial to the Republic of Congo’s economy, though there are efforts underway to diversify the export base and reduce the country’s dependency on oil revenues.

Timber and Wood Products

The Republic of Congo is also known for its extensive forests, which cover about 60% of the country’s land area. The timber industry is a significant contributor to its export economy, with various wood products being exported to markets around the world. This sector benefits from the country’s rich biodiversity and abundant forest resources.

Export Value of Timber and Wood Products

  • Timber exports were valued at approximately $1.1 billion in 2022.
  • Timber and wood products represent around 10% of the Republic of Congo’s total export value.
  • Major export markets include China, France, and other European countries.

The country exports both raw timber and processed wood products, with a focus on sustainable forestry practices in recent years to meet international standards and protect the environment.

Key Timber Products

  • Logs: Raw logs are a major export product, mainly shipped to Asia and Europe for further processing.
  • Sawn Wood: Processed wood, including planks, beams, and other sawn timber products, is exported to construction and furniture industries globally.
  • Wood Products: Includes wood chips, plywood, and veneer, which are essential in the manufacturing of furniture, paper, and packaging materials.

The timber industry provides significant employment opportunities and is crucial for the country’s economic diversification strategy, as the government works to balance the need for forest conservation with industrial demand.

Minerals

The Republic of Congo has abundant mineral resources, including copper, gold, diamonds, and manganese. While the mining sector is not as developed as the oil sector, it is growing rapidly and has attracted increasing foreign investment in recent years. The mining industry is expected to play a more prominent role in the country’s export portfolio in the future.

Export Value of Minerals

  • Mineral exports were valued at approximately $900 million in 2022.
  • Minerals account for about 8% of the Republic of Congo’s total export value.
  • Major mineral exports go to China, India, and other Asian countries.

The mining sector benefits from both domestic resources and foreign investment, with several multinational corporations involved in the extraction of minerals.

Key Mineral Products

  • Copper: The Republic of Congo is a significant exporter of copper, primarily from mines in the southwestern regions of the country.
  • Gold: While smaller in scale, gold mining is becoming increasingly important, and exports are growing.
  • Manganese: Manganese is another valuable mineral export, primarily used in steel production, with China being a key market.
  • Diamonds: Diamonds, although not as large in volume, are also an important export product, primarily to European and Asian markets.

The mining sector in the Republic of Congo holds vast potential for growth, with the country aiming to expand its mineral production to diversify its export base.

Agricultural Products

The Republic of Congo’s agricultural sector also plays a role in the country’s export economy, with key exports including cassava, cocoa, plantains, and palm oil. Agriculture provides a livelihood for a significant portion of the population, especially in rural areas, and the country is working to boost agricultural productivity and exports.

Export Value of Agricultural Products

  • Agricultural exports were valued at approximately $400 million in 2022.
  • Agricultural products account for about 4% of the country’s total export value.
  • Major agricultural exports go to neighboring African countries, France, and other European markets.

Agriculture is seen as a key sector for economic diversification, with the government investing in sustainable agricultural practices and export growth.

Key Agricultural Products

  • Cocoa: Cocoa production is an important agricultural export, particularly to European markets where it is used in chocolate manufacturing.
  • Palm Oil: Palm oil production is significant in the Republic of Congo, and the country exports palm oil to international markets.
  • Cassava and Plantains: These staple crops are vital for local consumption and also form part of the country’s agricultural exports to regional markets.

The Republic of Congo’s agricultural sector is poised for growth, with a focus on improving infrastructure, increasing crop yields, and expanding market access for agricultural products.

Other Notable Exports

  • Fisheries Products: The Republic of Congo has a thriving fisheries industry, with exports of fish and seafood products, especially shrimp, which are in demand in global markets.
  • Chemicals and Industrial Products: The chemical industry, which produces fertilizers, plastic products, and other industrial chemicals, is also an emerging sector for export.

The diversification of exports beyond oil is essential for the Republic of Congo’s long-term economic stability, and the country is working to enhance its industrial capacity and explore new market opportunities. Through strategic investments in sectors like mining, agriculture, and fisheries, the Republic of Congo is gradually expanding its export portfolio.

Top Products Exported by Republic of Congo

Market Value: 24,602 (millions) – Last Updated: June, 2024

Top Products Exported by Republic of Congo

Rank Product Trade Value (thousands) Share (%) Growth (% 5yr)
1 Crude Oil 7,375,713 29.98 424.06
2 Non Crude Oil 250,756 1.02 174.85
3 Petroleum Gases 98,850 0.40 67.06
4 Lumber 64,662 0.26 -48.46
5 Copper 57,640 0.23 3,640.61
6 Cobalt Ores 54,339 0.22 625.49
7 Cobalt Mattes 50,421 0.20 430.28
8 Copper Ores 49,948 0.20 201,757.85
9 Wood Sawn > 6 mm 34,753 0.14 6.23
10 Refined Copper & Alloys 31,949 0.13 325.40
11 Cane Sugar 29,891 0.12 114.56
12 Tin Ores 19,295 0.08 0.00
13 Coffee 7,386 0.03 4.85
14 Tobacco 6,009 0.02 -6.02
15 Tungsten Ores 5,965 0.02 0.00
16 Moving & Grading Machinery 5,846 0.02 0.00
17 Copper Waste & Scrap 5,582 0.02 682.19
18 Wood, Continuously Shaped (Tongued or Grooved 5,372 0.02 240.46
19 Natural Rubber 5,264 0.02 2,682.13
20 Binders For Found Molds 3,475 0.01 5,150.28
21 Bran 3,452 0.01 87.46
22 Veneer Sheets 3,436 0.01 -1.96
23 Copper Mattes 2,999 0.01 83.34
24 Shell Fish 2,797 0.01 12.66
25 Niobium 2,134 0.01 -45.31
26 Plywood 1,576 0.01 4,616.18
27 Iron & Steel > 600 mm Wide – Hot 1,564 0.01 0.00
28 Ferrous Waste & Scrap 1,254 0.01 268.14
29 Articles of Wood 1,016 0.00 888.93
30 Prefabricated Buildings 925 0.00 0.00
31 Aircraft 822 0.00 0.00
32 Engines & Motors 801 0.00 209.85
33 Explosive Devices 801 0.00 97.05
34 Aircraft Engines 743 0.00 508.85
35 Textile Wadding & Articles 741 0.00 0.00
36 Parts For Fork Lifts, Bulldozers & Graders 724 0.00 -36.91
37 Aluminum Waste & Scrap 645 0.00 901.55
38 Carpentry of Wood 624 0.00 1,544.81
39 Computers, Printers & Storage Units 585 0.00 -0.23
40 Survey Instruments 516 0.00 -81.60
41 Pumps For Liquids 486 0.00 294.13
42 Dried Fish 452 0.00 -14.30
43 Seamless Iron & Steel Tubes & Pipes 429 0.00 1,214.58
44 Plants For Pharmacy 409 0.00 -84.22
45 Medical, Dental & Vet Instruments 301 0.00 1,753.64
46 Interchange Hand & Machine Tools 284 0.00 419.67
47 Vegetable Alkaloids 283 0.00 -79.36
48 Enzymes 265 0.00 54.24
49 Prepared Explosives 258 0.00 0.00
50 Telephone, Fax & Switching Apparatus 216 0.00 186.54
51 Structures & Parts of Iron or Steel 211 0.00 0.00
52 Lead Ores 203 0.00 8,877.84
53 Passenger Vehicles 200 0.00 86.35
54 Electric Motors & Generators 180 0.00 1.69
55 Cocoa 175 0.00 -81.54
56 Instruments for Measure & Check Flow 172 0.00 84.84
57 Misc Ores 166 0.00 16.14
58 Live Fish 149 0.00 -29.02
59 Precious & Semiprecious Stones 142 0.00 83.19
60 Orthopedic Appliances 138 0.00 4,139.72
61 Parts For Machine Tools 135 0.00 2,102.78
62 Mechanical Machinery & Parts 121 0.00 -33.94
63 Television, Radio & Assessory Parts 120 0.00 261.62
64 Seeds 115 0.00 534.64
65 Prepared Vegetables 115 0.00 912.76
66 Fresh Vegetables 114 0.00 218.85
67 Machinery For Tobacco Preparation 112 0.00 0.00
68 Insulated Wire & Cable 108 0.00 3,394.97
69 Diamonds 107 0.00 -99.42
70 Water Heaters 104 0.00 0.00
71 Seats & Parts 104 0.00 2,359.12
72 Cement 101 0.00 0.00
73 Brooms & Mops 98 0.00 2,354.29
74 Furniture & Parts 97 0.00 344.40
75 Vegetable Saps & Extracts 97 0.00 425.36
76 Electric Lasers 93 0.00 0.00
77 Articles of Iron & Steel 90 0.00 378.35
78 Articles of Plastics 83 0.00 1,561.57
79 Acyclic Alcohols 81 0.00 0.00
80 Transmission Shafts, Bearings & Parts 80 0.00 1,264.32
81 Air & Vacuum Pumps 77 0.00 -69.41
82 Refrigerators & Freezers 74 0.00 13,122.14
83 Tea 73 0.00 243.63
84 Worn Clothing 72 0.00 361.40
85 Organic Compounds 69 0.00 16.94
86 Electrical Switching Boards 67 0.00 6,994.06
87 Hardware For Furniture, Doors & Windows 67 0.00 0.00
88 Measuring or Checking Instruments 66 0.00 -40.40
89 Taps, Cocks & Valves 65 0.00 -56.78
90 Engine Parts 59 0.00 -71.92
91 Gaskets & Similar Joints of Metal Sheeting 58 0.00 -38.53
92 Oscilloscopes & Electrical Measuring Instruments 57 0.00 429.33
93 Containers of Transport 55 0.00 4,527.73
94 Handbags, Wallets & Travel Goods 53 0.00 4,963.44
95 Polyethers 52 0.00 0.00
96 Machine Tools For Working Wood 52 0.00 1,282.45
97 Specialized Electrical Machinery & Parts 50 0.00 2,132.73
98 Tube & Pipe Fittings 50 0.00 515.04
99 Other Animals 49 0.00 -85.40
100 Electronic Integrated Circuits 48 0.00 -84.22
101 Computer & Office Machines Parts 43 0.00 336.95
102 Yachts & Other Pleasure Vessels 43 0.00 152.63
103 Articles of Natural & Cultured Pearls 41 0.00 -39.97
104 Hand-Operated Spanners & Wrenches 39 0.00 0.00
105 Piston Engines 39 0.00 0.00
106 Tobacco Substitutes 36 0.00 0.00
107 Switches, Relays & Fuses < 1000 Volts 36 0.00 24.38
108 Wood Marquetry 35 0.00 18.00
109 Instruments For Physical or Chemical Analysis 33 0.00 -88.33
110 Screws, Bolts & Nuts 33 0.00 -52.46
111 Household Art & Parts 32 0.00 2,221.36
112 IndustrialElectric Furnaces 32 0.00 0.00
113 Bed & Table Linen 32 0.00 944.78
114 Aluminum Tubes & Pipes 31 0.00 0.00
115 Transformers, Converters & Power Supplies 31 0.00 -41.33
116 Odoriferous Mixtures 30 0.00 0.00
117 Air Conditioners 30 0.00 118.58
118 Lamps & Lighting Fittings 29 0.00 4,331.55
119 Original Sculptures & Statues 29 0.00 -64.10
120 Vessels For Scrapping 29 0.00 0.00
121 Pork 28 0.00 0.00
122 Hand Tools 28 0.00 739.59
123 Made-Up Articles of Textile Materials 27 0.00 0.00
124 Motor Vehicle Parts 27 0.00 75.99
125 Printed Circuits 25 0.00 598.38
126 Containers For Compressed & Liquid Gas 24 0.00 3.34
127 Seamed Hollow Tubes & Pipes 24 0.00 0.00
128 Ketones & Quinones & Halogenatd 23 0.00 22.12
129 Frozen Beef 22 0.00 0.00
130 Cel Phones, Video Recorders & Radio Transcievers 21 0.00 -30.09
131 Watches 21 0.00 207.75
132 Battery Waste 20 0.00 0.00
133 Stranded Wire 20 0.00 327.75
134 Radar Apparatus & Navigation 20 0.00 534.73
135 Collectors Items of Botanic 20 0.00 -69.09
136 Frozen Fish 19 0.00 -56.97
137 Plastic Tubes 19 0.00 -81.73
138 Plastic Household Articles 18 0.00 0.00
139 Quartz 18 0.00 0.00
140 Electric Storage Batteries 18 0.00 476.15
141 Radioactive Chemical Elements & Isotopes. 17 0.00 0.00
142 Medicines in Doses 16 0.00 -85.06
143 Diesel Engines 16 0.00 -76.44
144 Vulcanized Rubber Tubes 16 0.00 0.00
145 Filters & Centrifuges 16 0.00 -68.48
146 Chicken 15 0.00 -74.60
147 Parts For Electric Equipment 15 0.00 -26.06
148 Cinematographic Cameras & Projectors 15 0.00 0.00
149 Anti-knock Preparations 15 0.00 0.00
150 Articles of Vulcanized Rubber 14 0.00 128.05
151 Plastic Containers 13 0.00 -55.10
152 Aircraft Parts 13 0.00 -76.92
153 Insecticides 13 0.00 0.00
154 Soap 13 0.00 0.00
155 Auxiliary Machinery For Textile Machines 13 0.00 175.13
156 Plastic Sheets, Film & Plates 13 0.00 -45.25
157 Granite 12 0.00 0.00
158 Twine 12 0.00 0.00
159 Records & Tapes 11 0.00 13.53
160 Ball & Roller Bearings & Parts 11 0.00 137.00
161 Parts of Railway Locomotives 10 0.00 0.00
162 Parts of Electric Motors 10 0.00 0.00
163 Nails 10 0.00 0.00
164 Non-Adhesive Plastic Plates, Sheets & Film 9 0.00 101.16
165 Washing Machines 9 0.00 0.00
166 Switching Equipment, > 1000 V 9 0.00 0.00
167 Kaolin 9 0.00 838.92
168 Glass Fibers & Articles 9 0.00 0.00
169 Machine Tools For Drilling 9 0.00 -65.87
170 Copper Plates 8 0.00 0.00
171 Basketwork 8 0.00 747.46
172 Books 8 0.00 -52.81
173 Articles of Stone 8 0.00 237.00
174 Pens & Mechanical Pencils 8 0.00 795.75
175 Electric Sound & Visual Signaling Apparatus 7 0.00 0.00
176 Clays 7 0.00 -37.17
177 Ethers 7 0.00 0.00
178 Mineral Substances 7 0.00 -91.08
179 Oxygen-Function Amino-Compounds 6 0.00 -84.40
180 Trucks 6 0.00 -92.83
181 Automatic Regulating & Control Instruments 6 0.00 -39.26
182 Postage & Revenue Stamps 6 0.00 0.00
183 Pictures & Photos 6 0.00 968.85
184 Platinum 6 0.00 0.00
185 Motorcycles 6 0.00 30.83
186 Gold 6 0.00 -99.72
187 Antiques > 100 Years Old 6 0.00 -98.82
188 Silicates 6 0.00 0.00
189 Sand Blasting Machines 6 0.00 -82.82
190 Tanks – < 300 Liter 5 0.00 -72.59
191 Lifting & Handling Machines 5 0.00 -58.69
192 Compasses & Navigation Instruments 5 0.00 -68.39
193 Machinery For Working Rubber & Plastics 5 0.00 -92.95
194 Primary Cells & Batteries 5 0.00 0.00
195 Sanitary & Toiletry Paper 5 0.00 0.00
196 TV Receivers 5 0.00 799.80
197 Edible Offal 5 0.00 0.00
198 Articles of Aluminum 5 0.00 0.00
199 Dishwashing & Packaging Machines 4 0.00 -99.41
200 Lubricating Preparations 4 0.00 0.00
201 Ink Jet Printers 4 0.00 -83.09
202 Portable Electric Lamps 4 0.00 0.00
203 Lead Waste & Scrap 4 0.00 0.00
204 Tubes & Pipes- > 4MM 4 0.00 0.00
205 Machinery Parts 4 0.00 -93.07
206 Electric Generating Sets & Rotary Converters 4 0.00 -88.69
207 Worked Ivory Articles 3 0.00 0.00
208 Glass Containers For Packing 3 0.00 0.00
209 Chain & Parts 3 0.00 0.00
210 Electric Capacitors 3 0.00 131.09
211 Knitted Mens & Boys Suits 3 0.00 0.00
212 Gas, Water, Electric Meters 3 0.00 34.23
213 Steam Turbines 3 0.00 0.00
214 Tableware of Base Metal 3 0.00 160.54
215 Machine Tools For Working Metal 3 0.00 0.00
216 Extracts of Coffee 3 0.00 0.00
217 Machines For Testing Material 3 0.00 -89.91
218 Industrial & Lab Furnaces 3 0.00 -90.16
219 Leather Footwear 3 0.00 0.00
220 Electric Water Heaters 3 0.00 -24.52
221 Non-Knit Womens & Girls Suits 2 0.00 0.00
222 Organic Surface-Active Agents 2 0.00 153.69
223 Springs & Leaves For Springs 2 0.00 -51.06
224 Reception Apparatus For Radiotelephony 2 0.00 8.10
225 Tape Recorders 2 0.00 0.00
226 Hand Paintings & Drawings 2 0.00 -99.36
227 Parts For Machines & Instruments 2 0.00 0.00
228 Safety Glass 2 0.00 0.00
229 Electric Ignition Equipment 2 0.00 0.00
230 Machine Tools For Forging 2 0.00 0.00
231 Other Footwear 2 0.00 0.00
232 Weighing Machines 2 0.00 0.00
233 Plastic Self-Adhesive Plates 2 0.00 -90.06
234 Uncoated Paper 2 0.00 0.00
235 Arcade, Table or Parlor Games 2 0.00 0.00
236 Drawing Instruments 1 0.00 0.00
237 Inorganic Acids 1 0.00 0.00
238 Citrus Fruit 1 0.00 0.00
239 Imitation Jewelry 1 0.00 0.00
240 Non-Knit Womens & Girls Overcoats 1 0.00 0.00
241 Needles 1 0.00 0.00
242 Pulley Tackle & Hoists 1 0.00 -84.91
243 Cassava 1 0.00 -57.72
244 Peanuts 1 0.00 0.00
245 Carbonates 1 0.00 30.29
246 X-Ray Apparatus 1 0.00 -87.76
247 Beauty & Make-up Perparations 1 0.00 23.04
248 Aluminum Plates 1 0.00 -95.16
249 Acrylic Polymers 1 0.00 0.00
250 Non-Knit Mens & Boys Shirts 1 0.00 -91.75
251 Frozen Vegetables 1 0.00 0.00
252 Hydrogen 1 0.00 0.00
253 Non-Knit Mens & Boys Suits 1 0.00 0.00
254 Balances 1 0.00 0.00
255 Plates 1 0.00 0.00
256 Felt Garments 1 0.00 -36.36
257 Art Paper 1 0.00 0.00
258 Tufted Carpets 1 0.00 -85.41
259 Knitted Sweaters 1 0.00 0.00
260 Dried Vegetables 1 0.00 -75.03
261 Video Recording Equipment 1 0.00 0.00
262 Notebooks & Business Forms 1 0.00 0.00
263 Chocolate 1 0.00 -29.48
264 Pasta 1 0.00 0.00
265 Sacks & Bags of Textile Material 1 0.00 -80.99
266 Acyclic Hydrocarbons 1 0.00 0.00
267 Monument Stone Articles 1 0.00 -43.66
268 Woven Cotton Fabrics 0 0.00 0.00
269 Hydrometers & Thermometers 0 0.00 -73.28
270 Photocopy Apparatus 0 0.00 -88.75
271 Hydraulic Brake Fluids 0 0.00 0.00
272 Mattress Supports 0 0.00 0.00
273 Wigs of Hair 0 0.00 -76.28
274 Personal Toilet Preparations 0 0.00 0.00
275 Washers & Dryers 0 0.00 0.00
276 Solder Machines 0 0.00 -99.65
277 Knitted Babies Garments & Accessories 0 0.00 -38.58
278 Glassware For Table 0 0.00 -97.71
279 Ginger, Thyme & Spices 0 0.00 0.00
280 Knives & Blades For Machines & Appliances 0 0.00 0.00
281 Textile Footwear 0 0.00 0.00
282 Non-Knit Track Suits 0 0.00 -66.17
283 Breathing Appliances & Gas Masks 0 0.00 0.00
284 Glaziers Putty & Caulking 0 0.00 0.00
285 Turntables & Cassette Players 0 0.00 0.00
286 Compound Optical Microscopes 0 0.00 0.00
287 Beer 0 0.00 -77.76
288 Machine Tools For Shaping 0 0.00 0.00
289 Woven Cotton Fabrics – > 85% < 200G/M2 0 0.00 -95.78
290 Leather Apparel & Accessories 0 0.00 -94.63
291 Molluscs 0 0.00 -96.10
292 Electromech Domestic Appliances 0 0.00 0.00
293 Umbrellas 0 0.00 0.00
294 Microphones 0 0.00 -93.76
295 Pumice 0 0.00 0.00
296 Ink 0 0.00 0.00
297 Foliage 0 0.00 0.00
298 Knitted T-Shirts 0 0.00 -84.26
299 Bells & Ornaments 0 0.00 -98.25
300 Flexible Tubing of Base Metal 0 0.00 0.00
301 Festive & Entertainment Art 0 0.00 0.00
302 Watches with Precious Metal Case 0 0.00 -99.22
303 Pebbles 0 0.00 -96.84
304 Fruit & Vegetable Juice 0 0.00 0.00
305 Photo Film in Rolls 0 0.00 -99.44
306 Checks & Stamps 0 0.00 0.00
307 Handtools & Tools Used in Agriculture 0 0.00 -93.43
308 Typewriter Ribbons 0 0.00 0.00
309 Knitted Mens & Boys Shirts 0 0.00 -99.32
310 Tanks – > 300 Liter 0 0.00 0.00
311 Revolution & Production Count Meters 0 0.00 -98.56
312 Wheat & Meslin Flour 0 0.00 0.00
313 Non-Knit Womens & Girls Blouses 0 0.00 0.00
314 Pencils, Crayons & Chalk 0 0.00 0.00
315 String Musical Instruments 0 0.00 0.00
316 Puzzles, Models & Toys 0 0.00 -99.70
317 Wine 0 0.00 -99.70
318 Palm Oil 0 0.00 -99.61
319 Ceramic Tableware & Earthenware 0 0.00 -99.72
320 Fresh Fruit 0 0.00 0.00
321 Woven Fabric of Artificial Filament Yarn 0 0.00 0.00
322 Soft Drinks 0 0.00 0.00
323 Ceramic Statuettes 0 0.00 -99.98
324 Electric Filament & Discharge Lamps 0 0.00 -99.92