World trade in terms of volume grew by 2.2% in 2016 compared to 2.7% in 2015. Exports and imports slowed down in advanced economies. World trade was expected to increase by 2.7% in 2017. Foreign trade stood at 5, 055 billion, which is a 15.4% drop compared to 2015. The degree of opening went from 16.4% in 2015 to 13.2%. At the end of the first half of 2017, the total value of trade fell from 2, 333.1 billion in the same period of 2016 to 2299.8 billion. 

For the year 2016, imports accounted for 61.2% of trade in goods compared to 59.8% in 2015. The weight of exports fell by 1.4 points to 38.8%. Crude oil represented 20% of total trade against 23.7% in 2015 and 30.7% in 2014. 

Exports: After a decline of 6.2% in 2015, exports in value fell by 18.4% in 2016 to 1 959.7 billion. Crude oil petroleum oils which accounted for 35.5% of exports suffered a contraction by 27.7% to come to 695.8 billion. Excluding oil, exports decreased by 12.1% by reason of unfavorable market conditions for the following products raw beans [-12.6%] logs [-12.9%], fuels and lubricants [-30.8%] raw aluminum [-15%] and raw cotton [-11.1%] the situation is mitigated by the increase in the sales of sawn wood [+3.1%], fresh banana [+4%], cocoa paste [+13.2%] veneer sheet  [+12.9%] and cocoa butter  [+6.7%]. 

Imports amounted to 3, 095.5 billion down and 13.4% compared year 2015. This development is explained by the decrease in the purchase of hydrocarbons [31.2%], cereals [16.4%], motor vehicles and tractors [-11%]. The decrease was mitigated thanks to the rise of machines and electrical or mechanical appliances [+8%]. Clinker imports are up 40.8% in volume and 29.4% in value, by reason of the activity in the country’s cement plants.

In the first half of 2017, year-on-year, imports dropped by 5.7% to stand at 1,321 billion. Higher purchase of the machine and electrical and mechanical appliances [+20.7%], industrial food