What does Congo-Brazzaville import? Oil, fuel, and poultry top the import bill.

Written by: Mohammed Omran

Despite the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) possessing aLarge oil reserves Having made the energy sector the backbone of its economy, it relies heavily on imports to provide the equipment needed for production, as well as the food and consumer goods needed by the local market. The country’s total imports amounted to more than $4.7 billion in recent years, according to data from the World Bank’s WITS platform, which is based on data from the United Nations International Trade (UN Comtrade).

What does Congo-Brazzaville import? Oil, fuel, and poultry top the import bill.

Trade data reveals that the Congolese import list reflects the nature of an economy that relies on exporting crude oil and importing equipment and goods that support the energy, infrastructure and consumption sectors, with oil-related equipment topping the list of imported goods.

Ships and specialized floating installations are among the goods imported by Congo-Brazzaville, with a value of more than $404.8 million. This category includes service vessels and marine installations used in oil-related activities and offshore operations, reflecting the Congolese energy sector's reliance on foreign equipment and technologies.

Second on the list were floating and submersible oil drilling or production platforms, valued at approximately $266.2 million. The offshore oil industry in Congo relies on this equipment to develop fields and maintain production operations, especially since a significant portion of the country’s production comes from offshore areas.

Despite being a crude oil producing country, Congo-Brazzaville imports refined petroleum products such as fuels and oils, which amounted to about $223.6 million during 2023. This is related to the local market's need for petroleum derivatives ready for use in transportation, industry and power generation.

In the food sector, frozen chicken parts and pieces are among the most important imported goods, with imports reaching approximately $187.9 million. This reflects the country's reliance on food imports to cover part of the population's needs, given the limited local production compared to the size of the demand.

Congo-Brazzaville also imports drilling pipes and tubes used in the oil and gas industry worth about $117 million, which are essential equipment for exploration and production operations, confirming the continued direct link between the import bill and the energy sector.

Imports are not limited to the oil sector, as Congo also relies on imports of machinery and industrial equipment used in construction, energy and manufacturing projects, in addition to electrical and technical equipment. World Bank data indicates that imports of capital goods amounted to about $1.86 billion in recent years, equivalent to about 39.71 TP3T of total imports.

The list of important imports also includes cars, trucks and spare parts to meet transport and trade needs, in addition to medicines and medical supplies, building materials such as iron, steel and cement, along with a number of basic food commodities such as grains, oils and sugar.

At the level of supplying countries, China topped the list of the largest suppliers to Congo-Brazzaville in recent years with exports valued at about $1.3 billion, followed by France with $415 million, then Gabon, Belgium and the United States.

The map of Congo-Brazzaville's imports reveals a clear economic paradox; the country, which relies on oil as its main source of exports, simultaneously needs to import oil equipment, fuel, and food. This makes diversifying the economy and increasing local production one of the most prominent challenges facing the country in the coming years.