flag Central African Republic Central African Republic: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Traditionally, the Central African Republic (CAR) is highly favorable to international trade and international trade represents around 45% of the country's GDP (World Bank, latest data available). However, the country's protectionist policies limited its openness and customs duties are relatively high. In addition, certain agricultural products benefit from higher tariff protections. Despite easy access to its internal market, the CAR does not grant preferential tariffs to other countries. CAR is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and of WTO. The country mainly exports gold (44.4% of the total), parts and accessories for tractors (14.1%), diamonds (12.2%), and electrical machines and apparatus (7%); whereas imports are led by engines and motors (12%), medicaments (6.7%), powered aircraft (6.3%), prefabricated buildings (4.8%), petroleum oils (4.1%), and human blood (2.5% - International Trade Centre, 2022).

CAR's main customers are the United Arab Emirates (40.9%), Pakistan (19.8%), Italy (12.6%), France (9%), and Cameroon (7.2%). Its main suppliers are Cameroon (40.2%), United States of America (9.7%), France (8.1%), China (7.9%), Belgium (3.4%), and India (3.1% - International Trade Centre, 2022).

CAR's trade balance is structurally in deficit, a trend which should continue in the years to come. In 2022, CAR exported USD 143 million in goods and imported USD 496 million (data WTO). As per the latest data available, in 2020, the country exported USD 291 million worth of services, vis-à-vis 354 million in imports. In 2022, the World Bank estimated the country’s trade deficit to account for 20.6% of GDP, up from 17.7% one year earlier.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20202021202220232024
Imports of Goods (million USD) 506458523506364
Exports of Goods (million USD) 134150175160166
Imports of Services (million USD) 353295282245n/a
Exports of Services (million USD) 38344345n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 1-97-1130
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -3-12-71825
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 5044454348
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3431332932
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 1513121415

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United Arab Emirates 69.4%
Italy 7.1%
France 5.7%
China 3.8%
Gabon 3.7%
See More Countries 10.3%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
China 17.0%
Cameroon 15.5%
France 11.2%
Ivory Coast 6.4%
Japan 5.1%
See More Countries 44.9%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

0.1 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 63.9%
Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted...Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or set (excl. unmounted stones for pick-up styluses, worked stones, suitable for use as parts of meters, measuring instruments or other articles of chapter 90) 12.5%
Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark...Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared (excl. rough-cut wood for walking sticks, umbrellas, tool shafts and the like; wood in the form of railway sleepers; wood cut into boards or beams, etc.) 6.7%
Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled,...Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness of > 6 mm 4.2%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 2.7%
See More Products 10.0%
0.7 bn USD of products imported in 2023
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 13.4%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 5.2%
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) 4.7%
Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,...Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with weapons, and parts of such vehicles, n.e.s. 4.4%
Special purpose motor vehicles (other than those...Special purpose motor vehicles (other than those principally designed for the transport of persons or goods), e.g. breakdown lorries, crane lorries, fire fighting vehicles, concrete-mixer lorries, road sweeper lorries, spraying lorries, mobile workshops and mobile radiological units 3.5%
See More Products 68.7%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

 

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

 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation
Member of African Union (AU)

Member of Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)

Member of Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) (in French)

Useful Resources
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
Go to this page to access the contact of the National Service of Industrial Property in the Central African Republic.
 
 
 

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Latest Update: October 2025