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The twenty imports Madagascar is best placed to replace.

Madagascar imported USD 3.6bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 1.5bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 651mthe twenty, imported in 2024
32products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
436products Madagascar already exports well
67product 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 Madagascar already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Madagascar 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 Madagascar does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

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

    Comes fromPakistan 63%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGraphite: natural, in powder or in flakes (exports USD 51m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 81m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Pakistan supplies 63 per cent (2).

    USD 81mup 13% on 2022
  2. 2

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

    Comes fromMauritius 81%, 17 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings... (exports USD 171k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 627k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 58m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 53m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Mauritius supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 53mup 6% on 2022
  3. 3

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

    Comes fromTurkey 79%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 29mdown 11% 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 35%, 17 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 67m
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 92m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3).

    USD 92mup 106% on 2022
  5. 5

    Clothing: worn, and other worn articlesHS 630900

    Comes fromChina 70%, 38 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTextiles: made up articles (including dress patterns), n.e.c. in... (exports USD 11m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 151k
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 86m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); China supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 86mup 26% on 2022
  6. 6

    Furnishing articles: of cotton, not knitted or crocheted (excluding bedspreads and articles of heading no. 9404)HS 630492

    Comes fromIndia 85%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTextiles: made up articles (including dress patterns), n.e.c. in... (exports USD 11m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 19k
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 37 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); India supplies 85 per cent (2).

    USD 19mfrom USD 748k in 2022
  7. 7

    Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540769

    Comes fromChina 95%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of filaments of... (exports USD 12k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 41m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 46 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 89% on 2022
  8. 8

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromIndia 27%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper...
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 54m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2).

    USD 54mup 10% on 2022
  9. 9

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

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 43%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGraphite: natural, in powder or in flakes (exports USD 51m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 19k
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 34m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (1); United Arab Emirates supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 34mdown 76% on 2022
  10. 10

    Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with aluminium zinc-alloysHS 721061

    Comes fromChina 100%, 1 source country
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 24m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 30 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); China supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 2% on 2022
  11. 11

    Limestone flux: limestone and other calcareous stone, of a kind used for the manufacture of lime or cementHS 252100

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 99%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGraphite: natural, in powder or in flakes (exports USD 51m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 33 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); United Arab Emirates supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 22mdown 0% on 2022
  12. 12

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

    Comes fromChina 77%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthContainers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel (exports USD 918k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 126k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 42 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); China supplies 77 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 61% on 2022
  13. 13

    Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the...HS 701090

    Comes fromTanzania 43%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTrack suits and other garments n.e.c.: men's or boys', of textile...
    Exports of this lineUSD 158k
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 43 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Tanzania supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 17mdown 20% on 2022
  14. 14

    Undenatured ethyl alcohol: of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higherHS 220710

    Comes fromSouth Africa 62%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar-cane... (exports USD 317k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 16m, top 49 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); South Africa supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 16mup 33% on 2022
  15. 15

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of different colours, weighing more than 200g/m2...HS 520942

    Comes fromIndia 57%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCotton: not carded or combed (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 54 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); India supplies 57 per cent (1).

    USD 15mdown 1% on 2022
  16. 16

    Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty...HS 382319

    Comes fromIndonesia 67%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 55 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); Indonesia supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 15mdown 5% on 2022
  17. 17

    Soap: in forms n.e.c. in item no. 3401.11HS 340120

    Comes fromIndonesia 69%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper...
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 72 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (2); Indonesia supplies 69 per cent (2).

    USD 13mdown 44% on 2022
  18. 18

    Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing...HS 521142

    Comes fromChina 68%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCotton: not carded or combed (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 81 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); China supplies 68 per cent (2).

    USD 12mup 13% on 2022
  19. 19

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

    Comes fromChina 44%, 48 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWaste and scrap of lead-acid accumulators: spent lead-acid... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 36 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 21mup 69% on 2022
  20. 20

    Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or...HS 300420

    Comes fromChina 53%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthChocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: in blocks...
    Exports of this lineUSD 78k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 104m
    Countries that export it well36

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 39 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); China supplies 53 per cent (1).

    USD 17mup 57% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Madagascar 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.

  • Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of... imports USD 14m, exports USD 897k, top source Vietnam 58%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 67 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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