Benin
↔
China

Benin-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.60B total volume •Benin deficit: $1.36B

Benin → China

$120.78M

Exports (2023)

China → Benin

$1.48B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$1.36B

Deficit for Benin

Total Trade

$1.60B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Benin and China. Green line shows exports from Benin, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Benin-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Benin → China Exports

$120.78M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
53.3% top product
1Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken
$64.32M
53.3% of exports
2Cotton: not carded or combed
$28.74M
23.8% of exports
3Soya beans: seed, whether or not broken
$4.96M
4.1% of exports
4Raw hides and skins: whole, unsplit, of bovine or equine animals, of a weight per skin not exceeding 8kg when simply dried, 10kg when dry-salted or 16kg when fresh, wet-salted or otherwise preserved
$2.44M
2.0% of exports
5Vegetables, leguminous: kidney beans, including white pea beans (phaseolus vulgaris), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried
$1.70M
1.4% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Benin's export portfolio to China demonstrates strategic specialization, with soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

China → Benin Imports

$1.48B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
10.7% concentration
1Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2
$158.18M
10.7% of imports
2Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars
$50.45M
3.4% of imports
3Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics
$32.90M
2.2% of imports
4Motorcycles (including mopeds): parts and accessories
$30.65M
2.1% of imports
5Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics
$22.81M
1.5% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Benin's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Benin demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsoya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken to China, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.60B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Benin-China Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.60 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Benin maintains a deficit of $1.36 billion
  • Export Focus: Benin's primary exports include soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, cotton: not carded or combed, soya beans: seed, whether or not broken
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars, footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.60B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Benin leveraging its comparative advantages in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Benin's specialization in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not brokencomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.60B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.60B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.60 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken and fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2 demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Benin's trade deficit of $1.36 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in cotton: not carded or combed present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Benin and China represents a total trade volume of $1.60 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Benin, with imports exceeding exportsby $1.36 billion.

Export Strengths

Benin's exports to China total $120.78 million, with competitive advantages in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, representing $64.32M or53.3% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from China amount to $1.48 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, with Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2 comprising10.7% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Benin's strategic sourcing from China. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Benin and China in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023