Sierra Leone-USA Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $115.74M total volume •Sierra Leone deficit: $71.45M

Sierra LeoneUSA

$22.14M

Exports (2023)

USASierra Leone

$93.60M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$71.45M

Deficit for Sierra Leone

Total Trade

$115.74M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

Sierra LeoneUSA Exports

$22.14M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
37.8% top product
1Diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set
$8.37M
37.8% of exports
2Titanium ores and concentrates
$2.02M
9.1% of exports
3Juice: pineapple, of a Brix value exceeding 20, unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
$1.84M
8.3% of exports
4Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$1.17M
5.3% of exports
5Diamonds: non-industrial, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted, but not mounted or set
$909,857
4.1% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Sierra Leone's export portfolio to USA demonstrates strategic specialization, with diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

USASierra Leone Imports

$93.60M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
25.7% concentration
1Plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles
$24.05M
25.7% of imports
2Meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, cuts and offal, frozen
$10.67M
11.4% of imports
3Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc
$10.49M
11.2% of imports
4Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$6.00M
6.4% of imports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc
$5.91M
6.3% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Sierra Leone's import pattern from USA reveals significant dependencyin plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Sierra Leone demonstrates competitive strength in exportingdiamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set to USA, 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 $115.74M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Sierra Leone-USA Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $115.74 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Sierra Leone maintains a deficit of $71.45 million
  • Export Focus: Sierra Leone's primary exports include diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set, titanium ores and concentrates, juice: pineapple, of a brix value exceeding 20, unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from USA include plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species gallus domesticus, cuts and offal, frozen, vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc

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 $115.74M 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 Sierra Leone leveraging its comparative advantages in diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set.

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

Sierra Leone's specialization in diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or setcomplements USA's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $115.74M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $115.74M 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 $115.74 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set and plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Sierra Leone's trade deficit of $71.45 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 titanium ores and concentrates present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, 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 diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set 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 Sierra Leone and USA represents a total trade volume of $115.74 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Sierra Leone, with imports exceeding exportsby $71.45 million.

Export Strengths

Sierra Leone's exports to USA total $22.14 million, with competitive advantages in diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted), but not mounted or set, representing $8.37M or37.8% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from USA amount to $93.60 million, highlighting economic interdependence in plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, with Plastics: household articles and hygienic or toilet articles comprising25.7% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Sierra Leone's strategic sourcing from USA. 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 Sierra Leone and USA in multiple formats.

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