China-Benin Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.60B total volume •China surplus: $1.36B

ChinaBenin

$1.48B

Exports (2023)

BeninChina

$120.78M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$1.36B

Surplus for China

Total Trade

$1.60B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

ChinaBenin Exports

$1.48B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
10.7% top product
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 exports
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 exports
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 exports
4Motorcycles (including mopeds): parts and accessories
$30.65M
2.1% of exports
5Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics
$22.81M
1.5% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

China's export portfolio to Benin demonstrates strategic specialization, 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 representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

BeninChina Imports

$120.78M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
53.3% concentration
1Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken
$64.32M
53.3% of imports
2Cotton: not carded or combed
$28.74M
23.8% of imports
3Soya beans: seed, whether or not broken
$4.96M
4.1% of imports
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 imports
5Vegetables, leguminous: kidney beans, including white pea beans (phaseolus vulgaris), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried
$1.70M
1.4% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

China's import pattern from Benin reveals significant dependencyin soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

China demonstrates competitive strength in exportingfabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2 to Benin, 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: China-Benin Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.60 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: China maintains a surplus of $1.36 billion
  • Export Focus: China's primary exports 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
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Benin include soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, cotton: not carded or combed, soya beans: seed, whether or not broken

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 China leveraging its comparative advantages 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.

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

China's specialization in fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2complements Benin's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken.

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

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

China's trade surplus of $1.36 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in 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 present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, 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 fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2 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 China and Benin represents a total trade volume of $1.60 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for China, with exports exceeding importsby $1.36 billion.

Export Strengths

China's exports to Benin total $1.48 billion, with competitive advantages 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, representing $158.18M or10.7% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Benin amount to $120.78 million, highlighting economic interdependence in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, with Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken comprising53.3% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates China's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. 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 China and Benin in multiple formats.

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