The trade deficit in Sao Tome and Principe shrank to USD 26.4 million in the third quarter of 2019 from USD 30.2 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports declined 53.8 percent to USD 1,063 million, amid lower shipments of cocoa (-57.9 percent); others (-52.3 percent); chocolate (-23.4 percent) and coconut oil (-98.1 percent). Imports fell 15.5 percent to USD 27,476 million, as purchases decreased for consumer goods (-17.3 percent); capital goods (-20.8 percent) and intermediate goods such as petroleum products (-9.1 percent), namely petrol (-7.5 percent). Balance of Trade in Sao Tome and Principe averaged -20.69 USD Million from 1999 until 2019, reaching an all time high of -1.55 USD Million in the second quarter of 1999 and a record low of -40.65 USD Million in the third quarter of 2014. source: Central Bank of Sao Tome and Principe

Balance of Trade in Sao Tome and Principe is expected to be -35.30 USD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Sao Tome and Principe to stand at -31.20 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Sao Tome and Principe Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -32.30 USD Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

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Sao Tome and Principe Balance of Trade

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-26.40 -30.40 -1.55 -40.65 1999 - 2019 USD Million Quarterly



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2019-02-07 04:25 PM Q4 $-30.2M $-30.7M $-28M
2019-05-30 09:10 AM Q1 $-32.7M $-27.9M $-31.5M
2019-08-13 09:30 AM Q2 $-30.4M $-32.7M $-31.3M
2019-11-19 09:40 AM Q3 $-26.4M $-30.4M $-31.7M
2020-01-30 10:00 AM Q4 -29.6
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
2019-05-30
Sao Tome and Principe Trade Gap Widens in Q1
The trade deficit in Sao Tome and Principe rose by 5.6 percent to USD 32.7 million in the first quarter of 2019 from USD 24.6 million in the same period of 2018. It was the widest trade shortfall since Q2 2017. Imports advanced 7.2 percent from a year ago to USD 34.3 million, mainly driven by purchases of consumption goods (15%), including food (12.2%); books, teaching materials (1501%); medicines (116.7%); and petroleum products (2.5%), namely gasoline (3.1%). In contrast, imports fell for capital goods (-6.5%). Major import partners were the EU (55.7%), of which Portugal (43.5%), Belgium (8.4%); and Angola (23.3%). Meantime, exports soared 71.5 percent to USD 1.6 million, powered by sales of cocoa (59%); chocolate (41.8%) and coconut (15.7%). Meanwhile, shipments declined for coffee (-43.9%). Main export partners were the EU (91 percent of total sales), mostly Belgium (50.5%), the Netherlands (24.4%), France (8.3%); and Angola (5.1%).

2019-02-07
Sao Tome and Principe Trade Gap Widens in Q4
The trade deficit in Sao Tome and Principe rose by 6.8 percent to USD 30.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from USD 28.3 million in the same period of 2017. Imports surged 6.2 percent year-on-year to USD 34.3 million, boosted by purchases of petroleum products (51.8 percent) and consumer goods (2.4 percent). On the other hand, imports fell for capital goods (-12 percent) and others (-4.8 percent). Meantime, exports advanced at a slower 1.8 percent to USD 4.1 million, as higher sales of palm oil (40700%); chocolate (186.6%) and coffee (241.6%) were partly offset by lower shipments of coconut (-68.2 percent) and cocoa (-3.4 percent).


Sao Tome and Principe Balance of Trade
Sao Tome and Principe runs systemic trade deficits due its dependency on imports of food (22 percent of total imports), capital equipment (21 percent) and fuel (15 percent). The main export is cocoa (79 percent of total exports). Others include: pepper, coconut and chocolate. Main trading partner is Portugal (53.6 of total imports and 5.7 percent of total exports), followed by France, Spain and Netherlands.

Sao Tome and Principe Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade -26.40 -30.40 -1.55 -40.65 USD Million [+]
Current Account -62.67 -78.60 8.70 -103.94 USD Million [+]
Imports 27.48 32.92 42.28 3.23 USD Million [+]
Exports 1.06 2.56 6.43 0.10 USD Million [+]