SSA Exports to the EU and US

Useful summary on the composition of Sub Saharan Africa's Exports to the EU and US, which shows:

• SSA non-oil exports to the European Union have been noticeably higher than to the United States
• Textiles and apparel were prominent in non-minerals/metals SSA exports to the United States, while agricultural products were a larger component in SSA exports to the European Union.
• SSA agricultural exports to the United States are markedly lower than to the European Union (due, in part, to the closer proximity of Europe to SSA).
• While remaining (non-oil, non-minerals/metals, non-textiles/apparel, non-agriculture) SSA exports to the United States have grown, they are still markedly lower than to the European Union. In 2008, exports from South Africa accounted for 81% of total SSA exports in this category to the U.S., and 59% to the EU.

Meanwhile, the US is the largest country importer globally and the single largest importer of African goods at a country level. Hence the U.S. has a merchandise trade deficit with Sub-Saharan Africa and the deficit continued to widen in 2008 to $67.5 billion, from $53.0 billion in 2007. Nigeria, Angola, the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea accounted for 97.2 percent of the U.S. trade deficit with Sub-Saharan Africa in 2008. 

Meanwhile Africa's trade with the EU has continued to decline, from a high of 55% in the mid eighties to about 35% share of total Africa trade in 2008. See previous post on Africa's Trade Profile with Global Partners.