Sao Tomé-et-Principe - Balance commerciale

The trade deficit in Sao Tome and Principe rose by 5.6 percent to USD 32.7 million in the first quarter of 2019 from USD 24.6 million in the same period of 2018. It was the widest trade shortfall since Q2 2017. Imports advanced 7.2 percent from a year ago to USD 34.3 million, mainly driven by purchases of consumption goods (15%), including food (12.2%); books, teaching materials (1501%); medicines (116.7%); and petroleum products (2.5%), namely gasoline (3.1%). In contrast, imports fell for capital goods (-6.5%). Major import partners were the EU (55.7%), of which Portugal (43.5%), Belgium (8.4%); and Angola (23.3%). Meantime, exports soared 71.5 percent to USD 1.6 million, powered by sales of cocoa (59%); chocolate (41.8%) and coconut (15.7%). Meanwhile, shipments declined for coffee (-43.9%). Main export partners were the EU (91 percent of total sales), mostly Belgium (50.5%), the Netherlands (24.4%), France (8.3%); and Angola (5.1%).

The trade deficit in Sao Tome and Principe rose by 6.8 percent to USD 30.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from USD 28.3 million in the same period of 2017. Imports surged 6.2 percent year-on-year to USD 34.3 million, boosted by purchases of petroleum products (51.8 percent) and consumer goods (2.4 percent). On the other hand, imports fell for capital goods (-12 percent) and others (-4.8 percent). Meantime, exports advanced at a slower 1.8 percent to USD 4.1 million, as higher sales of palm oil (40700%); chocolate (186.6%) and coffee (241.6%) were partly offset by lower shipments of coconut (-68.2 percent) and cocoa (-3.4 percent).