Togo’s exports grew 14.6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, reaching 249.1 billion CFA francs (US$411 million) and totaling 1.03 million metric tons, according to official data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED).
The increase reflects a combination of strong international demand and favourable commodity prices, with India emerging as the country’s top buyer, accounting for 21.3 percent of total exports. This surge was largely driven by phosphate shipments, Togo’s principal export commodity. Phosphate continues to underpin the West African nation’s trade earnings, with nearly 455,000 metric tons shipped to India during the quarter.
Regional trade remains a critical pillar of Togo’s export strategy. West African neighbours absorbed more than a quarter of the country’s exports, with Burkina Faso taking 10.4 percent, Côte d’Ivoire 9.1 percent, and Ghana 6.8 percent. Other regional partners, including Mali, Benin, and Niger, also featured prominently, benefiting from supply and re-export flows via the port of Lomé. These figures underscore the enduring importance of intraregional trade in supporting Togo’s economy, where logistical connectivity and historical trading links continue to drive cross-border flows.
Europe remains a secondary market, with France taking 5.3 percent, followed by smaller shares to the Netherlands and Denmark. Apart from India, Asian markets are relatively minor consumers of Togolese goods, though the strong performance of phosphate exports to India demonstrates the continent’s growing significance as a trading partner.
Despite the robust export performance, Togo’s trade balance deteriorated, as imports rose faster than exports. Imports for the third quarter reached 505 billion CFA francs, leaving a trade deficit of 255.8 billion CFA francs, wider than in the same period last year. The rising deficit reflects the country’s reliance on imported goods, including machinery, petroleum products, and other industrial inputs, which remain essential to supporting domestic production and regional re-export activities.
Togo’s export basket remains concentrated in a few key commodities. Phosphate leads, followed by cement and clinker, cotton, and agricultural products such as soybeans and coffee. The country also relies on manufactured goods and re-exports through the port of Lomé, a strategic gateway for regional trade. This concentration in both products and destinations highlights both opportunities and vulnerabilities: while strong demand for phosphates can generate significant revenue, fluctuations in global prices or disruptions in key markets could have outsized effects on the economy.
Analysts note that Togo’s export growth demonstrates resilience amid structural trade challenges. The country’s top ten export markets absorbed 74.4 percent of total export value, showing that a small number of partners dominate Togo’s international trade flows. Strengthening trade diversification, both in terms of markets and product lines, could help reduce economic exposure to external shocks and improve resilience to global price volatility.
The government has recently sought to expand trade through regional integration initiatives, including alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Greater connectivity with West African neighbours and targeted support for strategic sectors, such as agriculture and phosphate production, aim to bolster Togo’s long-term trade performance while supporting local employment and investment.
Overall, the third-quarter export data demonstrates that Togo’s economy continues to leverage its strategic geographic location and key commodities. However, the widening trade deficit highlights ongoing challenges, including high import dependency and limited diversification of both export products and markets. For policymakers, sustaining export growth while addressing structural trade imbalances remains a priority to ensure economic stability and long-term development.
More on Togo’s exports
Togo, a small West African country bordering Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso, has historically relied on trade as a key driver of economic growth. The country’s strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea, with the port of Lomé serving as a major regional hub, has made it a gateway for imports and exports across West Africa.
Togo’s economy is heavily dependent on a narrow range of commodities, with phosphate mining forming the backbone of exports. The country is one of Africa’s leading phosphate producers, supplying fertilizers to both regional and international markets. In addition to phosphates, Togo exports cement and clinker, cotton, agricultural commodities such as soybeans and coffee, and a range of manufactured goods. Re-exports through the port of Lomé, including goods destined for landlocked countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, further amplify its trade significance in the region.
The Togolese trade structure is highly concentrated. A handful of countries account for the majority of export revenues, with India, France, Ghana, and Burkina Faso consistently among the top buyers. This geographic concentration exposes Togo to fluctuations in demand and commodity prices, making diversification a key policy objective.
Togo’s trade balance has traditionally been in deficit, reflecting the high cost of imports relative to export earnings. Essential goods such as petroleum products, machinery, and consumer goods drive import demand, often outpacing revenues from exports. Policymakers have therefore prioritized boosting production, increasing value addition, and enhancing regional trade integration to mitigate structural imbalances.
In recent years, Togo has sought to leverage its participation in regional initiatives like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen trade ties and improve market access. Investments in port infrastructure, logistics, and industrial parks are part of a broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment and make exports more competitive.
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Despite its small size, Togo’s export sector is critical to national development, providing foreign exchange, generating employment, and supporting government revenue. Phosphate exports, in particular, have long been a major contributor to the country’s GDP and fiscal stability. However, global commodity price swings, regional competition, and limited product diversification remain persistent challenges that Togo must navigate to achieve sustainable trade growth.
