flag Cape Verde Cape Verde: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Cape Verde has one of Africa's most open economies, and trade represents 83% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). It became a member of the WTO in 2008 and enjoys preferential access to American and European markets, thanks to American legislation - the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) - and the Treaties of Lome and Cotonou. The country has also signed a free trade agreement with China. Cape Verde mainly exports fish and caviar (74.2% of total exports), clothes (8.1%), and parts of footwear (5.9%); while it imports food products (21.4%), fuels (19.2%), construction materials (8.7%), and machinery (6.1% - data INE, 2022).

Cape Verde's main customers are Spain (54.7% of total exports), Portugal (19.2%), Italy (18.8%), and the United States (5.2%). Its major suppliers are Portugal (42.7% of total imports), Spain (8.6%), China (5.1%), the Netherlands (5%), and the U.S. (2.4% - data INE 2022). However, global trade tensions among China, the United States, and Europe - key trading partners to the island economy - could have a negative impact on their economy. Additionally, the archipelago's strategic location means that Cape Verde is increasingly at the crossroads of the transatlantic narcotics trade. Consequently, the United States and Cape Verde are currently working together to fight drug trafficking along its coast. The construction of a special economic zone (involving Chinese investments) is expected to increase trade in the future. Overall, the export base of the country is limited in terms of products and partner countries.

The trade balance is in a structural deficit, a trend that should continue for the next years. In 2021, Cape Verde shipped USD 54 million worth of goods and imported goods for USD 800 million. With regard to services, the country exported USD 282 million and imported USD 229 million (WTO). According to World Bank data, in 2021 the country's trade balance was negative by 33.4% of GDP. According to preliminary data by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in 2022 the country exported CVE 5 million worth of merchandise, importing CVE 96 million.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Imports of Goods (million USD) 816796720821882
Exports of Goods (million USD) 7662535546
Imports of Services (million USD) 373355219229246
Exports of Services (million USD) 690740295287574
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 12-0-17913
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 139-593101
Trade Balance (million USD) -683-666-660-711-774
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 106103787795
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 6057545457
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 4647242338

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
Spain 57.6%
Italy 20.1%
Portugal 18.8%
United States 2.2%
Algeria 0.3%
See More Countries 0.9%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
Portugal 45.2%
Spain 8.6%
Togo 6.7%
Netherlands 5.3%
China 4.9%
See More Countries 29.3%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

0.0 bn USD of products exported in 2022
Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar...Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs 73.6%
Parts of footwear, incl. uppers whether or not...Parts of footwear, incl. uppers whether or not attached to soles other than outer soles; removable in-soles, heel cushions and similar articles; gaiters, leggings and similar articles, and parts thereof (excl. articles of asbestos) 6.3%
T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or...T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted 4.6%
Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal,...Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption; greaves 4.0%
Men's or boys' underpants, briefs, nightshirts,...Men's or boys' underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas, bathrobes, dressing gowns and similar articles, knitted or crocheted (excl. vests and singlets) 3.6%
See More Products 7.8%
0.8 bn USD of products imported in 2022
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 17.2%
RiceRice 3.2%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 3.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.6%
Bars and rods, of iron or non-alloy steel, not...Bars and rods, of iron or non-alloy steel, not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, but incl. those twisted after rolling (excl. in irregularly wound coils) 2.5%
See More Products 71.3%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

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To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

60.6 bn USD of services exported in 2022
69.89%
15.03%
5.95%
5.55%
1.03%
0.97%
0.74%
0.34%
0.25%
0.24%
0.01%
25.6 bn USD of services imported in 2022
39.79%
24.71%
15.46%
6.23%
5.81%
2.57%
1.76%
1.60%
1.32%
0.50%
0.25%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties

 

Trade Compliance

International Economic Cooperation
Member of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Member of African Union (AU)

Useful Resources
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
You can contact the Intellectual Property Institute of Cape Verde by Email.
 
 
 

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Latest Update: December 2023

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