Ghana-Sierra Leone Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $26.43M total volume •Ghana surplus: $19.72M

GhanaSierra Leone

$23.07M

Exports (2023)

Sierra LeoneGhana

$3.36M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$19.72M

Surplus for Ghana

Total Trade

$26.43M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Ghana and Sierra Leone. Green line shows exports from Ghana, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

GhanaSierra Leone Exports

$23.07M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
46.9% top product
1Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings
$10.81M
46.9% of exports
2Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, suitable for infants or young children, put up for retail sale
$3.06M
13.3% of exports
3Soups and broths and preparations therefor
$1.43M
6.2% of exports
4Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard
$804,053
3.5% of exports
5Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material
$777,242
3.4% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Ghana's export portfolio to Sierra Leone demonstrates strategic specialization, with sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Sierra LeoneGhana Imports

$3.36M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
53.9% concentration
1Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$1.81M
53.9% of imports
2Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products)
$476,469
14.2% of imports
3Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use
$263,503
7.9% of imports
4Fish: frozen, mackerel (Scomber scombrus, Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99
$162,016
4.8% of imports
5Electrical transformers, static converters and inductors: parts thereof
$93,283
2.8% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Ghana's import pattern from Sierra Leone reveals significant dependencyin vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Ghana demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings to Sierra Leone, 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 $26.43M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Ghana-Sierra Leone Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $26.43 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Ghana maintains a surplus of $19.72 million
  • Export Focus: Ghana's primary exports include sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings, food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, suitable for infants or young children, put up for retail sale, soups and broths and preparations therefor
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Sierra Leone include vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products), soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use

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 $26.43M 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 Ghana leveraging its comparative advantages in sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings.

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

Ghana's specialization in sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningscomplements Sierra Leone's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $26.43M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $26.43M 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 $26.43 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings and vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Ghana's trade surplus of $19.72 million 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 food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, suitable for infants or young children, put up for retail sale present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, 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 sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings 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 Ghana and Sierra Leone represents a total trade volume of $26.43 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Ghana, with exports exceeding importsby $19.72 million.

Export Strengths

Ghana's exports to Sierra Leone total $23.07 million, with competitive advantages in sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings, representing $10.81M or46.9% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Sierra Leone amount to $3.36 million, highlighting economic interdependence in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, with Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified comprising53.9% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Ghana'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 Ghana and Sierra Leone in multiple formats.

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