Togo’s Q4 2025 exports reach 253.5 bln CFA francs, India top destination

Economic governance

Tuesday, 05 May 2026 18:30

Togo’s Q4 2025 exports reach 253.5 bln CFA francs, India top destination

(Togo First) - Togo's exports reached 253.5 billion CFA francs in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data recently published by the country's national statistics institute, INSEED.

Exports rose 1.7% in value compared with the previous quarter. Year on year, exports climbed 23.4%, outpacing import growth of 9.5%.

The trade deficit narrowed slightly on an annual basis but remained elevated. Imports totalled 536.4 billion CFA francs, leaving a deficit of 282.9 billion CFA francs.

The structure of exports remains concentrated in a handful of products. Phosphates led with 16.2% of external sales (about 41 billion CFA francs), followed by motorcycles at 7.9% and refined petroleum products at 6.6%.

Plastic bags and packaging accounted for 6.4% of exports, soybean meal for 5.8% and beauty products for 5.5%. Refined palm oil (3.6%), soybeans (3.4%), clinker (3.4%) and cocoa (3.1%) rounded out the top 10. Together, the 10 leading products accounted for 61.9% of total exports.

By export destination, India ranked as Togo's top market, taking 18.6% of exports, or 47.2 billion CFA francs, in the fourth quarter of 2025. Côte d'Ivoire came second at 13.4%, followed by Burkina Faso at 11.4%.

Benin (9.4%), Ghana (6.4%), France (5.6%) and the United States (5.1%) were also among the main export markets. Togo's 10 largest customers accounted for 81.2% of total exports in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.