Liberia Major Exports

Liberia, located on the west coast of Africa, has a resource-rich economy primarily driven by its natural resources. The country’s export sector is diverse, encompassing products such as rubber, iron ore, timber, and agricultural goods. Despite challenges like political instability and infrastructure constraints, Liberia has made strides in boosting its export economy, leveraging its abundant natural resources and key industries. Below is an overview of Liberia’s major exports and their respective trade values.

Major Export Categories

1. Rubber

Liberia is one of the largest producers of rubber in Africa, with rubber plantations being a significant contributor to the country’s export economy. The country exports both natural rubber and rubber-based products, which are in demand worldwide, especially in the automotive and manufacturing industries.

  • Trade Value: Rubber exports contribute approximately $300 million annually to Liberia’s export revenue.
  • The primary markets for Liberia’s rubber exports include the United States, China, and countries in Europe.

Key Products:

  • Natural Rubber: Liberia exports large quantities of raw natural rubber, which is processed and used in the production of tires and other rubber products.
  • Rubber Products: In addition to raw rubber, the country also exports rubber products like gloves, gaskets, and belts.

2. Iron Ore

Iron ore is one of Liberia’s most valuable natural resources, with significant reserves of high-grade ore. The country is a key exporter of iron ore, which is used primarily in the production of steel. The mining sector in Liberia has attracted foreign investment, making it a central component of the export economy.

  • Trade Value: Iron ore exports contribute around $200 million annually to Liberia’s economy.
  • Major export destinations for Liberia’s iron ore include China, the European Union, and other countries in Asia.

Key Products:

  • Iron Ore Concentrates: Liberia exports iron ore concentrates, which are processed and used in the production of steel.
  • Pellets: The country also exports iron ore pellets, which are an essential input for steelmaking.

3. Timber and Wood Products

Liberia is home to significant forest resources, and timber and wood products have long been major exports. The country’s timber industry, which is highly valued for its hardwood, serves both regional and international markets. Liberia exports a range of timber products used in construction, furniture, and manufacturing.

  • Trade Value: Timber and wood product exports contribute approximately $150 million annually to Liberia’s export revenue.
  • The primary markets for Liberia’s timber products include China, India, and European countries.

Key Products:

  • Logs and Lumber: Liberia exports raw logs and sawn timber, particularly to Asian markets, where they are used in construction and manufacturing.
  • Wooden Furniture: The country also exports handcrafted wooden furniture to international markets, particularly in Europe and the United States.
  • Plywood: Liberia exports plywood and other processed wood products used in construction and furniture.

4. Cocoa and Coffee

Agriculture plays a vital role in Liberia’s economy, with cocoa and coffee being two of the country’s most important export crops. Liberia has favorable growing conditions for both crops, and their exports contribute significantly to the economy. The country’s cocoa industry, in particular, has the potential for growth as global demand for chocolate and cocoa products rises.

  • Trade Value: Cocoa and coffee exports contribute approximately $200 million annually to Liberia’s export earnings.
  • Major export markets for these products include the United States, Europe, and other countries in Africa.

Key Products:

  • Cocoa Beans: Liberia exports cocoa beans, which are used in the production of chocolate and other cocoa-based products.
  • Coffee Beans: The country also exports coffee beans, particularly Robusta coffee, which is in demand in Europe and Asia.
  • Cocoa and Coffee Products: Some processed cocoa and coffee products, such as cocoa butter and roasted beans, are also exported.

5. Gold

Gold mining is an important sector in Liberia’s economy, with significant potential for growth in the coming years. Gold exports form a key part of the country’s resource-driven export economy, and the country has attracted foreign investment in its gold mining sector.

  • Trade Value: Gold exports contribute around $150 million annually to Liberia’s export revenue.
  • The primary markets for Liberia’s gold exports are the United States, Switzerland, and other European countries.

Key Products:

  • Gold Bullion: Liberia primarily exports gold in the form of raw gold bullion.
  • Gold Dust: The country also exports gold dust, which is extracted from artisanal mining operations.

6. Fish and Seafood

Liberia’s coastline along the Atlantic Ocean provides access to abundant fish and seafood resources, making it an important industry for the country’s exports. The fishing sector has seen growth in recent years, particularly in the export of fish products to regional and international markets.

  • Trade Value: Fish and seafood exports contribute approximately $50 million annually to Liberia’s export economy.
  • The largest markets for Liberia’s seafood exports are Europe, China, and neighboring West African countries.

Key Products:

  • Frozen Fish: Liberia exports frozen fish, including tuna, mackerel, and snapper, to various international markets.
  • Seafood Products: The country also exports processed seafood products, including dried and salted fish.
  • Shellfish: Shellfish, such as shrimp and lobster, are also part of Liberia’s seafood export portfolio.

7. Palm Oil

Liberia has significant agricultural land suitable for palm oil production, and it is becoming an increasingly important export commodity. Palm oil is used in a variety of industries, including food production, cosmetics, and biofuels. The country’s palm oil industry has attracted foreign investment, contributing to the growth of the agricultural export sector.

  • Trade Value: Palm oil exports contribute around $50 million annually to Liberia’s export revenue.
  • Major markets for Liberia’s palm oil exports include Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Key Products:

  • Crude Palm Oil: Liberia exports crude palm oil, which is used in food production and as a raw material in industrial applications.
  • Refined Palm Oil: The country also exports refined palm oil, which is used in consumer goods such as cooking oils, soaps, and cosmetics.

Liberia’s export economy is largely driven by its natural resources, with key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and timber playing central roles. Despite challenges like infrastructure limitations, Liberia continues to build its export base, tapping into global markets for products like rubber, diamonds, and gold. The country’s natural resources and agricultural products remain essential for its economic development and integration into regional and international trade networks.

Top Products Exported by Liberia

Market Value: 3,552 (millions) – Last Updated: June, 2024

Top Products Exported by Liberia

Rank Product Trade Value (thousands) Share (%) Growth (% 5yr)
1 Vessels For Transport 691,284 19.46 48.90
2 Natural Rubber 231,010 6.50 224.53
3 Crude Oil 221,044 6.22 0.00
4 Non Crude Oil 18,031 0.51 2,121.29
5 Synthetic Rubber 4,485 0.13 995.14
6 Books 2,131 0.06 9,894.65
7 Computer & Office Machines Parts 1,909 0.05 1,800.06
8 Articles of Vulcanized Rubber 1,542 0.04 21,677.36
9 Acyclic Alcohols 1,415 0.04 0.00
10 Ferrous Waste & Scrap 1,339 0.04 -4.44
11 Cocoa 1,272 0.04 18.05
12 Yachts & Other Pleasure Vessels 1,269 0.04 -83.76
13 Copper Waste & Scrap 1,265 0.04 224.19
14 Watches with Precious Metal Case 1,071 0.03 0.00
15 Polymers of Ethylene 592 0.02 0.00
16 Palm Oil 361 0.01 594.45
17 Ships Derricks & Cranes 337 0.01 0.00
18 Aluminum Waste & Scrap 331 0.01 163.62
19 Dried Fish 308 0.01 9,443.30
20 Prepared & Preserved Fish 257 0.01 0.00
21 Transmission Shafts, Bearings & Parts 249 0.01 2,321.23
22 Aircraft Parts 235 0.01 0.00
23 Telephone, Fax & Switching Apparatus 189 0.01 102.17
24 Tobacco 158 0.00 0.00
25 Aircraft Engines 145 0.00 0.00
26 Structures & Parts of Iron or Steel 109 0.00 1,349.13
27 Cotton 108 0.00 0.00
28 Knitted Gloves 93 0.00 0.00
29 Frozen Fish 90 0.00 0.00
30 Leather Footwear 77 0.00 0.00
31 Transister & Semiconductor Devices 74 0.00 0.00
32 Halogenated Derivatives of Hydrocarbons 63 0.00 0.00
33 Bread, Pastry & Cakes 62 0.00 0.00
34 Apparel & Accessories of Rubber 62 0.00 0.00
35 Ball & Roller Bearings & Parts 58 0.00 0.00
36 Machinery Parts 57 0.00 0.00
37 Non-Knit Track Suits 56 0.00 0.00
38 Containers of Transport 54 0.00 1,671.77
39 Cow &Horse Hides -No Hair 54 0.00 -6.30
40 Instruments For Physical or Chemical Analysis 51 0.00 0.00
41 Shell Fish 51 0.00 0.00
42 Lead Waste & Scrap 50 0.00 668.51
43 Medicines in Doses 49 0.00 0.00
44 Passenger Vehicles 49 0.00 3,223.14
45 Bed & Table Linen 48 0.00 0.00
46 Engine Parts 47 0.00 -78.74
47 Articles of Plastics 47 0.00 -26.40
48 Other Animals 46 0.00 162.91
49 Floating Structures, Rafts & Buoys 44 0.00 604.11
50 Computers, Printers & Storage Units 42 0.00 -87.31
51 Washers & Dryers 42 0.00 5,000.61
52 Coffee 42 0.00 -89.33
53 Insulated Wire & Cable 42 0.00 905.99
54 Coconut Oil 38 0.00 137.94
55 Pens & Mechanical Pencils 34 0.00 1,703.04
56 Precious & Semiprecious Stones 31 0.00 26.73
57 Pictures & Photos 30 0.00 716.96
58 Cel Phones, Video Recorders & Radio Transcievers 29 0.00 -7.84
59 Steam Turbines 26 0.00 0.00
60 Original Sculptures & Statues 22 0.00 0.00
61 Worn Clothing 21 0.00 0.00
62 Seamless Iron & Steel Tubes & Pipes 20 0.00 0.00
63 Food Preparations 18 0.00 1,863.07
64 Reception Apparatus For Radiotelephony 17 0.00 652.64
65 Pumps For Liquids 15 0.00 -18.68
66 Video Recording Equipment 14 0.00 0.00
67 Coin 14 0.00 546.26
68 Mechanical Machinery & Parts 14 0.00 0.00
69 Knitted Pantyhose 14 0.00 0.00
70 Air & Vacuum Pumps 13 0.00 0.00
71 Electric Motors & Generators 13 0.00 81.47
72 Knotted Carpets 12 0.00 0.00
73 Chain & Parts 11 0.00 -58.16
74 Bells & Ornaments 11 0.00 0.00
75 Radar Apparatus & Navigation 10 0.00 -72.05
76 Electric Capacitors 9 0.00 0.00
77 TV Receivers 9 0.00 0.00
78 Television, Radio & Assessory Parts 9 0.00 193.84
79 Wheat 9 0.00 -11.95
80 Electric Generating Sets & Rotary Converters 9 0.00 -91.66
81 Compasses & Navigation Instruments 9 0.00 69.65
82 Plastic Tubes 9 0.00 13.77
83 Pulley Tackle & Hoists 8 0.00 300.78
84 Specialized Electrical Machinery & Parts 8 0.00 0.00
85 Candy 8 0.00 0.00
86 Printed Circuits 7 0.00 0.00
87 Seats & Parts 7 0.00 0.00
88 Water Heaters 7 0.00 293.02
89 Refractory Ceramic Goods 7 0.00 0.00
90 Electric Lasers 7 0.00 0.00
91 Parts For Fork Lifts, Bulldozers & Graders 6 0.00 -25.52
92 Non-Knit Mens & Boys Shirts 6 0.00 327.95
93 Switches, Relays & Fuses < 1000 Volts 6 0.00 243.07
94 Tea 5 0.00 0.00
95 Electromagnets 5 0.00 0.00
96 Engines & Motors 5 0.00 -89.77
97 Perfumes & Toilet Waters 5 0.00 0.00
98 Gold 5 0.00 -97.34
99 Articles of Jewelry & Parts 5 0.00 216.56
100 Electric Storage Batteries 5 0.00 0.00
101 Food & Drink Preparation Machines 5 0.00 0.00
102 Plastic & Rubber Footwear 5 0.00 0.00
103 Knitted T-Shirts 5 0.00 0.00
104 Refrigerators & Freezers 4 0.00 320.41
105 Motor Vehicle Parts 4 0.00 456.49
106 Dried Vegetables 4 0.00 0.00
107 Liquid Crystal Devices 4 0.00 0.00
108 Wire & Rods 4 0.00 0.00
109 Woven Pile & Chenille Fabrics 4 0.00 0.00
110 Non-Knit Womens & Girls Suits 4 0.00 -97.42
111 Taps, Cocks & Valves 4 0.00 0.00
112 Medical, Dental & Vet Instruments 3 0.00 0.00
113 Knitted & Crocheted Fabrics 3 0.00 -76.56
114 Orthopedic Appliances 3 0.00 0.00
115 Measuring or Checking Instruments 3 0.00 0.00
116 Collectors Items of Botanic 3 0.00 -99.29
117 Screws, Bolts & Nuts 3 0.00 -89.56
118 Polymers of Propylene & Other Olefins 3 0.00 0.00
119 Other Footwear 3 0.00 0.00
120 Hand Tools 3 0.00 -36.81
121 Clasps, Buckles & Hooks 3 0.00 0.00
122 Glass Beads & Articles 2 0.00 0.00
123 Woven Cotton Fabrics – > 85% < 200G/M2 2 0.00 -34.71
124 Electrical Switching Boards 2 0.00 132.31
125 Instruments for Measure & Check Flow 2 0.00 -72.39
126 Records & Tapes 2 0.00 -95.62
127 Electronic Integrated Circuits 2 0.00 -91.69
128 Looseleaf Binder Fittings & Paper Clips 2 0.00 0.00
129 Electric Ignition Equipment 2 0.00 0.00
130 Chocolate 2 0.00 0.00
131 Furniture & Parts 2 0.00 -97.00
132 Ethers 2 0.00 0.00
133 Electric Sound & Visual Signaling Apparatus 2 0.00 0.00
134 Handbags, Wallets & Travel Goods 2 0.00 0.00
135 Live Fish 2 0.00 -90.44
136 Sand Blasting Machines 2 0.00 -74.65
137 Weighing Machines 2 0.00 0.00
138 Transformers, Converters & Power Supplies 2 0.00 -97.92
139 Mattress Supports 2 0.00 19.85
140 Tools For Working in the Hand 1 0.00 0.00
141 Live Plants 1 0.00 -67.44
142 Hardware For Furniture, Doors & Windows 1 0.00 36.30
143 Articles of Aluminum 1 0.00 40.67
144 Automatic Regulating & Control Instruments 1 0.00 0.00
145 Paint & Varnish 1 0.00 0.00
146 Knitted Track Suits 1 0.00 0.00
147 Articles of Iron & Steel 1 0.00 0.00
148 Clocks 1 0.00 0.00
149 Electric Water Heaters 1 0.00 -99.47
150 Vessels Including Warships & Lifeboats 1 0.00 0.00
151 Filters & Centrifuges 1 0.00 -97.73
152 Beauty & Make-up Perparations 1 0.00 10.00
153 Household Art & Parts 1 0.00 -78.26
154 Parts of Electric Motors 1 0.00 0.00
155 Articles of Copper 1 0.00 0.00
156 Non-Knit Womens & Girls Overcoats 1 0.00 0.00
157 Animal Feed 1 0.00 0.00
158 Personal Toilet Preparations 1 0.00 0.00
159 Knitted Sweaters 1 0.00 -99.61
160 Photographic Still Cameras 0 0.00 0.00
161 Bicycles 0 0.00 0.00
162 Textile Footwear 0 0.00 0.00
163 Plastic Household Articles 0 0.00 0.00
164 Non-Knit Mens & Boys Suits 0 0.00 -99.91
165 Office Paper 0 0.00 -85.38
166 Mineral Substances 0 0.00 0.00
167 Prepared Unrecorded Sound Media 0 0.00 0.00
168 Mineral Wools 0 0.00 0.00
169 Electrical Resistors 0 0.00 0.00
170 Ceramic Tableware of Porcelain & China 0 0.00 0.00
171 Padlocks 0 0.00 0.00
172 Trucks 0 0.00 -98.84
173 Petroleum Coke 0 0.00 0.00
174 Air Conditioners 0 0.00 0.00
175 Microphones 0 0.00 0.00
176 Felt Garments 0 0.00 0.00
177 Puzzles, Models & Toys 0 0.00 0.00
178 Knitted Made-Up Clothing Accessories 0 0.00 0.00
179 Electric Parts & Accessories 0 0.00 0.00
180 Oscilloscopes & Electrical Measuring Instruments 0 0.00 0.00
181 Sauces & Condiments 0 0.00 0.00
182 Solder Machines 0 0.00 0.00
183 Photocopy Apparatus 0 0.00 0.00
184 Hand Paintings & Drawings 0 0.00 -99.99
185 Portable Electric Lamps 0 0.00 0.00
186 Instruments With Electric Sound Productions 0 0.00 0.00
187 Blankets & Traveling Rugs 0 0.00 -99.07
188 Wood Charcoal 0 0.00 0.00
189 Hydrometers & Thermometers 0 0.00 0.00
190 Iron Ores & Concentrates 0 0.00 0.00
191 Notebooks & Business Forms 0 0.00 0.00
192 Parts For Machine Tools 0 0.00 0.00