Comoros - International trade

Comoros has had persistant trade deficits , which are covered by foreign aid, most of which comes from France. Merchandise export earnings in 1999 were $11 million. (The World Factbook estimated that exports reached US$7.9 million that same year.) The bulk of the exports were ylang-ylang essence, other essential oils, vanilla, cloves, copra, and other agricultural produce. The most important export earner is vanilla, although there is yearly variation depending on the success of the harvests. Most exports go to France (35 percent) with Germany, the United States, Singapore, and Mauritius also providing important export markets.

Trade (expressed in billions of US$): Comoros
	Exports	Imports
1975	.010	.023
1980	.011	.029
1985	.016	.036
1990	.018	.052
1995	.011	.063
1998	N/A	N/A
SOURCE : International Monetary Fund. International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1999.

Exchange rates: Comoros
Comoran francs per US$1
Jan 2001	524.41
2000	533.98
1999	461.77
1998	442.46
1997	437.75
1996	383.66
Note: Prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since January 1, 1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro.
SOURCE : CIA World Factbook 2001 [ONLINE].

Imports include rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, consumer manufactures, and motor vehicles. In 1999, imports were valued at $48 million. (The World Factbook estimated that imports reached US$55.1 million that same year.) Most imports come from France with Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium also supplying significant quantities.