Trading Partner Portal: Cote d’Ivoire
Overview
Trade Overview
Cote d’Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast in English, is located off the south coast of West Africa. The area became a protectorate of France in 1842, becoming a colony in 1893, and later achieved independence in 1960 under Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who ruled the country from 1960 to 1993 when he died.
The Ivory Coast is relatively stable, by regional standards, and has close political and economic ties with its West African neighbors, while at the same time maintaining close relations with the West, especially France. In the 1960s and 70s, the country was an economic powerhouse in West Africa due to its production of coffee and cocoa. Today, the country is the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans and the fourth largest exporter of goods overall in sub-Saharan Africa.
U.S. – Cote d’Ivoire Trade
In 2023, the U.S. exported $545 million worth of goods to the Ivory Coast, an increase from $501 million in 2022. Chemicals made up $244 million of the total. This was followed by oil and gas and non-electrical machinery which totaled $118 million and $33 million, respectively. Other exported top categories included computer and electronic products ($25 million) and transportation equipment ($17 million).
The same year, the U.S. imported $948 billion worth of goods form the Ivory Coast. $397 million of total imports was made up of agricultural products, which includes cocoa. This was followed by imports of $344 million of processed foods, and forestry products, oil and gas, and petroleum and coal products making up $142 million, $27 million and $20 million of the total, respectively.
California – Cote d’Ivoire Trade
California exported $14 million to the Ivory Coast in 2023 almost double from 2022. This was made up of $8 million in computer and electronic products, $3 million in non-electrical equipment, $1 million of transportation equipment, and less than $1 million in used or secondhand merchandise and processed foods.
California imports from the Ivory Coast in 2023 totaled $67 million. The majority of which were made up of processed foods totaling $30 million. This was followed by petroleum and coal products, making up $20 million, agricultural products $17 million, and forestry products and reimports at less than $1 million.
Remarks by Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross at the U.S.-Cote d’Ivoire MOU Signing Ceremony
U.S. Department of Commerce, December 7, 2018
Events
Events