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The twenty imports Democratic Republic of the Congo is best placed to replace.

Democratic Republic of the Congo imported USD 9.9bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 21bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 1.9bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
97products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
44products Democratic Republic of the Congo already exports well
201product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Democratic Republic of the Congo already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Democratic Republic of the Congo would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Democratic Republic of the Congo does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Sulphur of all kinds: other than sublimed, precipitated and colloidal sulphurHS 250300

    Comes fromZambia 87%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMarble and travertine: having a specific gravity of 2.5 or more... (exports USD 396k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 102k
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 128m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3); Zambia supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 128mdown 63% on 2022
  2. 2

    Wigs, false beards, eyebrows and eyelashes, switches and the like and other articles n.e.c.: of human hairHS 670420

    Comes fromChina 97%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 17k
    Countries that export it well9

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 104m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); China supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 104mup 110% on 2022
  3. 3

    Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavouredHS 220210

    Comes fromZambia 72%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 82k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 34m
    Countries that export it well60

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 164m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 72 per cent (2).

    USD 164mup 297% on 2022
  4. 4

    Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing...HS 170114

    Comes fromBrazil 49%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 46m
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 115m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 0 per cent (3); Brazil supplies 49 per cent (1).

    USD 115mup 15% on 2022
  5. 5

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromZambia 54%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMarble and travertine: having a specific gravity of 2.5 or more... (exports USD 396k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 115m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Zambia supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 115mup 42% on 2022
  6. 6

    Food preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoaHS 190531

    Comes fromZambia 69%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlants and parts (including seeds and fruits) n.e.c. in heading no....
    Exports of this lineUSD 2k
    Countries that export it well52

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 92m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 69 per cent (2).

    USD 92mup 25% on 2022
  7. 7

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromZambia 82%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 46m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 82m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 82mup 25% on 2022
  8. 8

    Iron or steel: grinding balls and similar articles for mills, forged or stamped, but not further workedHS 732611

    Comes fromChina 71%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 31m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 25 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); China supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 38mdown 24% on 2022
  9. 9

    Machines, for sorting, screening, separating, washing, crushing etc mineral substances, for agglomerating, shaping or...HS 847490

    Comes fromChina 70%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 5k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 58m
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 162m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1); China supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 162mdown 44% on 2022
  10. 10

    Vehicles: dumpers, designed for off-highway use, for transport of goodsHS 870410

    Comes fromChina 49%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 191k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 247m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 155m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2); China supplies 49 per cent (1).

    USD 155mdown 25% on 2022
  11. 11

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromChina 63%, 28 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 12m
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 93m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); China supplies 63 per cent (2).

    USD 93mdown 55% on 2022
  12. 12

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromTanzania 44%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 66m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); Tanzania supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 66mup 40% on 2022
  13. 13

    Sulphuric acid: oleumHS 280700

    Comes fromZambia 100%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides (exports USD 222m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 58mdown 65% on 2022
  14. 14

    Sulphides: of sodium, whether or not chemically definedHS 283010

    Comes fromChina 66%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides (exports USD 222m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 54m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); China supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 54mdown 16% on 2022
  15. 15

    Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: n.e.c. in item no. 8429.50HS 842959

    Comes fromUganda 64%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 224k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 164m
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 43m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); Uganda supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 43mup 107% on 2022
  16. 16

    Explosives, prepared: other than propellent powdersHS 360200

    Comes fromZambia 79%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 48 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Zambia supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 21mup 14% on 2022
  17. 17

    Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses...HS 300490

    Comes fromIndia 53%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 62m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 135m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); India supplies 53 per cent (1).

    USD 135mdown 6% on 2022
  18. 18

    Magnesia, fused or dead-burned (sintered): whether or not containing small quantities of other oxides added before...HS 251990

    Comes fromTanzania 44%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMarble and travertine: having a specific gravity of 2.5 or more... (exports USD 396k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 100m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Tanzania supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 100mup 10% on 2022
  19. 19

    Boards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases: for electric control or the distribution of electricity, (other than...HS 853710

    Comes fromChina 49%, 35 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 89k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 38m
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 76m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); China supplies 49 per cent (1).

    USD 76mup 18% on 2022
  20. 20

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromAngola 38%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: of cast iron (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 65m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Democratic Republic of the Congo's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3).

    USD 65mup 21% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Democratic Republic of the Congo already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Unused postage, revenue or similar stamps of current or new issue in the... imports USD 28m, exports USD 3m, top source Morocco 58%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 201 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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