Benin consistently runs a trade deficit. The leading exports are cotton, uranium and thorium ores, cottonseeds, and cigarettes. Leading imports are foodstuffs, petroleum products, beverages, tobacco, capital goods, and light consumer products.
Principal trading partners in 1999 (in millions of US dollars) were as follows:
COUNTRY | EXPORTS | IMPORTS | BALANCE |
Brazil | 41 | 5 | 36 |
India | 32 | 16 | 16 |
Indonesia | 21 | 8 | 13 |
Thailand | 11 | 23 | -12 |
Bangladesh | 10 | n.a. | |
United States | 9 | 43 | -34 |
Pakistan | 9 | 6 | 3 |
Spain | 7 | 32 | -25 |
France | 3 | 185 | -182 |
China (inc. Hong Kong) | 3 | 43 | -40 |
Germany | 2 | 28 | -26 |
United Kingdom | 2 | 33 | -31 |
Côte d'Ivoire | 2 | 88 | -86 |
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