Trade between Togo and India reached US$3.48 billion in 2025, according to data from the Indian Embassy in Lomé, making Togo India’s 32nd largest commercial partner globally. The figures reflect steadily expanding economic exchanges between the West African nation and one of the world’s largest emerging markets.
India has become a key destination for Togolese exports outside West Africa, with some reports noting that it ranks as the largest international market for certain Togolese products. The trade relationship spans multiple sectors, including raw materials, industrial goods, and services, while Indian investments in Togo continue to grow, particularly in manufacturing and processing industries.
“India’s economic presence in Togo is expanding steadily, with several Indian companies establishing production units or increasing their existing capacities,” the embassy said in a statement. These investments align with Togo’s strategy to promote local processing and value addition through initiatives such as the Adétikopé Industrial Platform.
Togo’s exports to India remain concentrated in a limited range of commodities. In 2023, for example, exports totaled approximately $619 million, dominated by natural calcium phosphates valued at $308 million. Petroleum products re-exported through Togo accounted for $81 million, while agricultural and forestry products such as soybeans, soybean oil, and sawn wood, along with smaller quantities of metal scrap and raw cotton, made up the remainder.
By contrast, imports from India were far higher, totaling around $3.6 billion, revealing a pronounced trade imbalance. Refined petroleum products accounted for nearly $3 billion of imports, followed by rice valued at $327 million, and smaller volumes of manufactured goods, textiles, machinery, and chemicals.
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Despite the imbalance, Indian investments have contributed to job creation and the development of Togo’s industrial base, officials said. The partnership is seen as a key element in Togo’s broader economic diversification strategy, which seeks to reduce dependency on raw commodity exports and expand domestic manufacturing capabilities.
In addition to trade and industrial development, both countries are exploring cooperation in renewable energy and climate action. Officials from Togo and India have expressed interest in developing joint initiatives that could promote sustainable energy production, climate resilience, and environmentally responsible industrial practices.
“The medium-term objective is to strengthen economic and industrial ties while aligning development efforts with sustainable and climate-conscious growth,” a government source said.
The Adétikopé Industrial Platform, located near the capital Lomé, has emerged as a focal point for this bilateral cooperation. The project aims to attract foreign investment, promote local manufacturing, and enhance the processing of Togolese raw materials for regional and global markets. Indian firms have played a central role in these efforts, supporting Togo’s vision of building an integrated industrial base that can drive long-term economic growth.
Trade between Togo and India is expected to continue expanding, driven by growing Indian investment, diversification of export products, and joint efforts to foster industrial and technological capacity. Analysts say that while the current trade imbalance favors India, strategic investments and industrial projects could gradually improve Togo’s export competitiveness and strengthen the bilateral economic partnership.
