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The twenty imports Gabon is best placed to replace.

Gabon imported USD 2.2bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 118m. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 347mthe twenty, imported in 2024
20products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
36products Gabon already exports well
41product 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 Gabon already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Gabon 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 Gabon does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

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

    Comes fromFrance 91%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 35k
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 52m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); France supplies 91 per cent (2).

    USD 52mup 3% on 2022
  2. 2

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

    Comes fromChina 56%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerro-alloys: ferro-silico-manganese (exports USD 22m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); China supplies 56 per cent (1).

    USD 22mup 400% on 2022
  3. 3

    Fish preparations: sardines, sardinella and brisling or sprats, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not...HS 160413

    Comes fromMorocco 70%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); Morocco supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 21mdown 33% on 2022
  4. 4

    Boring or sinking machinery: parts for boring or sinking machinery of subheading 8430.41 or 8430.49HS 843143

    Comes fromUnited States 45%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 25k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 11m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); United States supplies 45 per cent (1).

    USD 21mdown 28% on 2022
  5. 5

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromBrazil 35%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3).

    USD 21mfrom USD 3m in 2022
  6. 6

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromFrance 64%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: of cast iron
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2); France supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 19mup 78% on 2022
  7. 7

    Clothing: worn, and other worn articlesHS 630900

    Comes fromBelgium 71%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 27k
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 41 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); Belgium supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 4% on 2022
  8. 8

    Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or...HS 640299

    Comes fromChina 91%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 5k
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 85 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); China supplies 91 per cent (2).

    USD 11mup 3% on 2022
  9. 9

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

    Comes fromChina 41%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 143k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); China supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 22mdown 4% on 2022
  10. 10

    Iron or steel (excluding cast iron or stainless steel): seamless, casing and tubing, of a kind used in drilling for...HS 730429

    Comes fromChina 70%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 29 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); China supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 18mdown 37% on 2022
  11. 11

    Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, suitable for infants or young children, put...HS 190110

    Comes fromFrance 86%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 17m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 16m, top 46 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); France supplies 86 per cent (2).

    USD 16mup 21% on 2022
  12. 12

    Ceramic flooring blocks, supports or filler tiles and the like (excluding building bricks)HS 690490

    Comes fromChina 99%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 16m, top 49 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 16mup 30% on 2022
  13. 13

    Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)HS 252310

    Comes fromEgypt 58%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well36

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 68 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Egypt supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 13mdown 49% on 2022
  14. 14

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromMorocco 44%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: n.e.c. in heading no. 4408, sheets for veneer or plywood...
    Exports of this lineUSD 275k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 32 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); Morocco supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 18mup 7% on 2022
  15. 15

    Plastics: articles for the conveyance or packing of goods n.e.c. in heading no. 3923HS 392390

    Comes fromFrance 66%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 12k
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 76 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); France supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 12mup 5% on 2022
  16. 16

    Wine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or lessHS 220421

    Comes fromFrance 87%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 52k
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 80 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); France supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 12mup 18% on 2022
  17. 17

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromChina 54%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 56 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); China supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 83% on 2022
  18. 18

    Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based...HS 160100

    Comes fromFrance 39%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: n.e.c. in heading no. 4408, sheets for veneer or plywood...
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well37

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 73 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 54% on 2022
  19. 19

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

    Comes fromFrance 32%, 37 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 19k
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 10m, top 98 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Gabon's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1).

    USD 10mdown 7% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Gabon 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.

No line where the country already exports well and still imports more than it sells abroad.

How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 41 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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