Togo’s exports concentrated in India and regional markets in Q3 2025

Economic governance

Monday, 09 February 2026 15:06

Togo’s exports concentrated in India and regional markets in Q3 2025

(Togo First) - Togo’s exports reached 249.1 billion CFA francs in the third quarter of 2025, representing a total volume of 1.03 million tonnes, according to official figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED).

Year on year, exports rose by 14.6% in value, a positive performance despite a trade environment marked by a persistent structural deficit.

Export destinations remain highly concentrated. The country’s top ten trading partners accounted for 74.4% of total export value during the period, consistent with past trends. India remained Togo’s leading market, representing 21.3% of exports, or 55.2 billion CFA francs, with nearly 455,000 tonnes shipped during the quarter. This position reflects strong demand for phosphates, Togo’s main export commodity.

West Africa accounts for over a quarter of exports

Regional markets play a central role in Togo’s export structure. Burkina Faso ranked second, accounting for 10.4% of exports, followed by Côte d’Ivoire at 9.1% and Ghana at 6.8%.

Combined, these West African partners accounted for more than a quarter of export revenues. Mali, Benin, and Niger also ranked among Togo’s main customers, supported by supply and re-export flows through the port of Lomé, underscoring the importance of intra-regional trade.

Beyond the region, Europe maintained a presence, led by France with a 5.3% share, followed by the Netherlands and Denmark. Asia remained marginal outside India. Although exports appear geographically diversified, trade flows remain dominated by a limited number of markets.

Trade deficit widens

Despite the rise in exports, faster growth in imports continued to weigh on the trade balance. Imports reached 505 billion CFA francs in the third quarter, resulting in a trade deficit of 255.8 billion CFA francs, wider than a year earlier.

Togo’s main export products include phosphates, cement and clinker, cotton, agricultural products such as soya and coffee, as well as manufactured goods and re-exports via the port of Lomé.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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