Togo Nears Access To China’s Soybean Market

Agriculture

Monday, 15 December 2025 15:21

Togo Nears Access To China’s Soybean Market

(Togo First) - Togolese soybeans could soon gain access to the Chinese market. China’s ambassador to Togo, Wang Min, said earlier this month that the approval process was nearing completion, signaling that exports could begin once the final steps are cleared.

Soybeans already play a strategic role in Togo’s agricultural economy. The country is among the leading exporters of organic soybeans to the European Union, a position supported by better-organized value chains and the gradual tightening of quality standards across the sector.

Formal access to the Chinese market would open additional growth opportunities for the industry. By diversifying export destinations, it could encourage new investment, strengthen demand, and support the development of local processing capacity.

China’s interest in expanding its network of agricultural suppliers reflects its heavy dependence on imports. The country is the world’s largest soybean buyer, accounting for between 60% and 70% of globally traded volumes, according to estimates by S&P. Demand is driven by the rapid expansion of its agri-food industry and livestock sector.

The announcement follows a broader strengthening of ties between Beijing and Lomé. In 2024, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping and Togolese Council President Faure Gnassingbé made the joint announcement.

That momentum translated into a sharp rise in trade in 2025. Between January and September, bilateral trade reached $4 billion, an increase of 56.4%. Togolese exports to China rose fivefold over the period, supported by Beijing’s zero-tariff policy on 100% of eligible African products.

No timetable has been announced for the completion of the soybean access protocol, but Chinese authorities say the final approval phase is underway.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.