Togo: Exports Revenues Reached CFA422 Billion in H1 2024

Economic governance

Saturday, 07 September 2024 17:56

Togo: Exports Revenues Reached CFA422 Billion in H1 2024

(Togo First) - Togolese earned CFA422 billion from exports throughout the first half of the year. According to the country’s Institute of Statistics (INSEED), the figure is down 0.9% year-on-year (CFA426 billion.

During the six months ended in June 2024, export revenues were the highest in March, standing at CFA81.3 billion. They stood at CFA63.8 billion and CFA64.6 billion in January and February, respectively.

After peaking in March, exports fell to CFA79.3 billion in April, then further to CFA59.7 billion in May, the lowest in H1 2024. However, they rose back to CFA73.1 billion in June.

Togo’s import revenues stood at CFA921 billion over the period reviewed, resulting in a trade balance deficit of nearly CFA499 billion. The gap spread a little compared to H1 2023 where it stood at CFA495.4 billion.

Quarterly, Togo’s exports totaled CFA209.8 billion and CFA212.1 billion in Q1 and Q2 2024, respectively. Imports decreased by 3.1%, from CFA467.7 billion in Q1 to CFA453.2 billion in Q2.

Togo's main exports include phosphates, which generated CFA39.6 billion in Q2 2024, or 18.7% of all export revenues. Other key exports are plastic bags (8.6%) and petroleum oils (8.5%). In Q1, plastic bags made up 11.4% of exports (CFA23.8 billion), followed by phosphates (CFA22.6 billion, 10.8%) and petroleum oils (CFA22.5 billion, 10.7%).

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.