• Togo plant exports fall to CFA 5.83 billion

• Animal product exports rise to CFA 5.02 billion

• Imports far exceed exports, highlighting trade deficit

Togo exported 5.83 billion CFA francs ($9.6 million) worth of plant products, including agricultural and forestry goods, in the third quarter of 2025, down from 18.89 billion CFA francs in the previous quarter, according to data from the national statistics office, INSEED.

The decline followed two quarters of elevated exports and likely reflects seasonal factors, export supply and demand conditions in regional markets. On a year-on-year basis, plant product exports were below the 6.67 billion CFA francs recorded in the third quarter of 2024.

By contrast, exports of animal products, particularly livestock products, rose to 5.02 billion CFA francs in the third quarter, up from 3.12 billion CFA francs in the previous three months. They also exceeded the 4.20 billion CFA francs recorded a year earlier.

Togo remains a net importer

Agriculture is a pillar of Togo’s economy, accounting for around 40% of gross domestic product and employing nearly 70% of the labour force. Much of agricultural output, especially food crops, is consumed domestically.

Domestic production remains insufficient to meet demand. In the third quarter, vegetable imports totalled 29.65 billion CFA francs, nearly six times export earnings, underscoring a structural trade deficit in plant products despite the contribution of certain cash crops.

Imports of animal products reached 17.39 billion CFA francs over the same period, more than three times export revenues from the sector.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi