Liberia-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023
Complete trade statistics: $8.48B total volume •Liberia deficit: $8.31B
Liberia → China
$85.12M
Exports (2023)
China → Liberia
$8.40B
Imports (2023)
Trade Balance
$8.31B
Deficit for Liberia
Total Trade
$8.48B
Combined Volume
Trade Flow Visualization
Direct trade relationship between Liberia and China. Green line shows exports from Liberia, red line shows imports.
Detailed Product Trade Analysis
Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Liberia-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.
Liberia → China Exports
Export Market Intelligence
🎯 Strategic Export Focus
Liberia's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.
China → Liberia Imports
Import Dependency Profile
📦 Import Strategy Analysis
Liberia's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.
Competitive Trade Position Analysis
Market Leadership
Liberia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingiron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated to China, leveraging comparative advantages.
Trade Complementarity
The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.
Growth Potential
The $8.48B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.
Executive Summary: Liberia-China Trade Relationship
Key Trade Highlights 2023
- Total Trade Volume: $8.48 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
- Trade Balance: Liberia maintains a deficit of $8.31 billion
- Export Focus: Liberia's primary exports include iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated, wood, tropical: other than dark red meranti, light red meranti and meranti bakau, in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared, untreated, titanium ores and concentrates
- Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods, petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, tankers
Strategic Trade Indicators
📈 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 $8.48B 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 Liberia leveraging its comparative advantages in iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated.
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
Comparative Advantage
Liberia's specialization in iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomeratedcomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.
Supply Chain Integration
Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods.
Market Access & Trade Policy
Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $8.48B bilateral relationship.
Trade Pattern Insights
Trade Relationship Outlook
The $8.48B 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 $8.48 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.
Industrial Integration
Trade flows in iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated and vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.
Trade Balance Effects
Liberia's trade deficit of $8.31 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.
Strategic Future Outlook
🚀Growth Opportunities
⚠️Risk Factors
🎯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 Liberia and China represents a total trade volume of $8.48 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Liberia, with imports exceeding exportsby $8.31 billion.
Export Strengths
Liberia's exports to China total $85.12 million, with competitive advantages in iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated, representing $47.66M or56.0% of bilateral exports.
Import Dependencies
Imports from China amount to $8.40 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods, with Vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods comprising60.9% of total imports.
The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Liberia'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 Liberia and China in multiple formats.
Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023