Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe

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Sao Tome and Principe-Bulgaria Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.57M total volume •Sao Tome and Principe deficit: $1.16M

Sao Tome and PrincipeBulgaria

$203,524

Exports (2023)

BulgariaSao Tome and Principe

$1.36M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$1.16M

Deficit for Sao Tome and Principe

Total Trade

$1.57M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Sao Tome and Principe and Bulgaria. Green line shows exports from Sao Tome and Principe, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Sao Tome and Principe-Bulgaria commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Sao Tome and PrincipeBulgaria Exports

$203,524
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
88.4% top product
1Cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted
$179,967
88.4% of exports
2Vegetable oils: coconut (copra) oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$20,864
10.3% of exports
3Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil
$2,693
1.3% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Sao Tome and Principe's export portfolio to Bulgaria demonstrates strategic specialization, with cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

BulgariaSao Tome and Principe Imports

$1.36M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
34.0% concentration
1Engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition)
$463,552
34.0% of imports
2Vaccines: for human medicine
$238,732
17.5% of imports
3Meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, cuts and offal, frozen
$182,204
13.4% of imports
4Trailers and semi-trailers: n.e.c. in item no. 8716.3
$56,563
4.1% of imports
5Meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, not cut in pieces, frozen
$51,395
3.8% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Sao Tome and Principe's import pattern from Bulgaria reveals significant dependencyin engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition), highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Sao Tome and Principe demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted to Bulgaria, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 3+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

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

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.57M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Sao Tome and Principe-Bulgaria Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.57 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Sao Tome and Principe maintains a deficit of $1.16 million
  • Export Focus: Sao Tome and Principe's primary exports include cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted, vegetable oils: coconut (copra) oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Bulgaria include engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition), vaccines: for human medicine, meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species gallus domesticus, cuts and offal, frozen

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 $1.57M 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 Sao Tome and Principe leveraging its comparative advantages in cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted.

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

Sao Tome and Principe's specialization in cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roastedcomplements Bulgaria's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition).

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.57M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.57M 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 $1.57 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted and engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition) demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Sao Tome and Principe's trade deficit of $1.16 million 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 vegetable oils: coconut (copra) oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition), 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 cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted 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 Sao Tome and Principe and Bulgaria represents a total trade volume of $1.57 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Sao Tome and Principe, with imports exceeding exportsby $1.16 million.

Export Strengths

Sao Tome and Principe's exports to Bulgaria total $203.52 thousand, with competitive advantages in cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted, representing $179,967 or88.4% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Bulgaria amount to $1.36 million, highlighting economic interdependence in engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition), with Engines: parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition) comprising34.0% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Sao Tome and Principe's strategic sourcing from Bulgaria. 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 Sao Tome and Principe and Bulgaria in multiple formats.

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