• Togo exports rise 14.6% to 249.1 billion CFA francs
• India top buyer, driven by phosphate shipments
• Trade deficit widens as imports reach 505 billion CFA

Togo's exports reached 249.1 billion CFA francs ($411 million) in the third quarter of 2025, totaling 1.03 million metric tons, according to official data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED).

Year-on-year, foreign sales increased 14.6% by value, a positive development despite a commercial context marked by a structural deficit.

The geographic structure of exports remains highly concentrated. Togo's top 10 customers absorbed 74.4% of export value during the period, following a fairly typical pattern for the country.

India maintains its position as the leading market, accounting for 21.3% of the total, or 55.2 billion CFA francs for nearly 455,000 metric tons exported during the quarter. This position is largely explained by phosphate sales, Togo's primary export product.

More Than a Quarter of Exports in West Africa

Regional markets follow, forming the core of Togo's export strategy. Burkina Faso ranks second with 10.4% of exports, ahead of Côte d'Ivoire at 9.1% and Ghana at 6.8%.

These West African partners alone account for more than a quarter of export revenues. Further evidence of the importance of intraregional trade to the Togolese economy, Mali, Benin and Niger also feature among major clients, driven by supply and re-export activities through the port of Lomé.

Beyond the region, Europe remains present, with France at 5.3%, the Netherlands and Denmark. Asia remains relatively limited, apart from very strong Indian demand. While Togolese sales appear geographically diversified, flows are in fact dominated by a limited number of markets.

More broadly, the rise in exports was insufficient to offset faster-growing imports, valued at 505 billion CFA francs in the third quarter. The trade balance posted a deficit of 255.8 billion CFA francs, worsening compared to the previous year.

As a reminder, Togo's main export products are phosphates, cement and clinker, cotton, agricultural products such as soybeans and coffee, as well as certain manufactured goods and re-exports through the port of Lomé.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi