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The twenty imports Senegal is best placed to replace.

Senegal imported USD 10bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 2.2bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 1.4bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
70products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
379products Senegal already exports well
219product 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 Senegal already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Senegal 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 Senegal does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

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

    Comes fromBrazil 82%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, containing added... (exports USD 288k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 465k
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 232m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Brazil supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 232mup 65% on 2022
  2. 2

    Aluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or...HS 761290

    Comes fromMorocco 82%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: waste and scrap (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 33k
    Countries that export it well42

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 73m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); Morocco supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 73mup 232% on 2022
  3. 3

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

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 46%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially... (exports USD 168m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 70m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); United Arab Emirates supplies 46 per cent (1).

    USD 70mdown 58% on 2022
  4. 4

    DredgersHS 890510

    Comes fromCroatia 98%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 13m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 240m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1); Croatia supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 240mfrom USD 102k in 2022
  5. 5

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

    Comes fromFrance 60%, 54 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPharmaceutical goods: first aid boxes and kits (exports USD 244k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 25m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 184m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); France supplies 60 per cent (2).

    USD 184mup 2% on 2022
  6. 6

    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 94%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 6m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 18m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 75m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); China supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 75mup 51% on 2022
  7. 7

    Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of...HS 230400

    Comes fromArgentina 95%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFlours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or... (exports USD 29m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 250k
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1); Argentina supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 58mup 34% on 2022
  8. 8

    Wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded...HS 440729

    Comes fromCameroon 87%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: doors and their frames and thresholds, (of other than tropical... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 104k
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 46 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3); Cameroon supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 20mdown 34% on 2022
  9. 9

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage exceeding 1000 voltsHS 854460

    Comes fromSouth Korea 57%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthInsulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000... (exports USD 20m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 346k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 15m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 72m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); South Korea supplies 57 per cent (1).

    USD 72mup 449% on 2022
  10. 10

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

    Comes fromFrance 26%, 58 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSoups and broths and preparations therefor (exports USD 146m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 62m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2).

    USD 62mup 22% on 2022
  11. 11

    Aluminium: alloys, hollow profilesHS 760421

    Comes fromChina 95%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: waste and scrap (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 202k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 11m
    Countries that export it well37

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 43m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); China supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 43mup 18% on 2022
  12. 12

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310210

    Comes fromRussia 44%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, mineral or chemical: ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate... (exports USD 26m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 12m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 27m, top 29 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); Russia supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 27mdown 63% on 2022
  13. 13

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

    Comes fromFrance 61%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFlours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or... (exports USD 29m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 37 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 12 per cent (2); France supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 24mup 15% on 2022
  14. 14

    T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of textile materials (other than cotton), knitted or crochetedHS 610990

    Comes fromChina 86%, 32 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGarments: of textile materials (other than cotton or man-made... (exports USD 556k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 129k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 80 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); China supplies 86 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 33% on 2022
  15. 15

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

    Comes fromChina 23%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow... (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 73m
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 77m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1).

    USD 77mdown 50% on 2022
  16. 16

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

    Comes fromSouth Africa 46%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: for transport of persons (other than those of heading no.... (exports USD 43m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 144m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 41m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); South Africa supplies 46 per cent (1).

    USD 41mup 180% on 2022
  17. 17

    Extracts, essences and concentrates: of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences or...HS 210111

    Comes fromIvory Coast 58%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSoups and broths and preparations therefor (exports USD 146m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 33m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (1); Ivory Coast supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 33mup 4% on 2022
  18. 18

    Plastics: tableware and kitchenwareHS 392410

    Comes fromChina 74%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles, for the... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 523k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 25m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 28m, top 28 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); China supplies 74 per cent (2).

    USD 28mup 44% on 2022
  19. 19

    Aluminium: structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading no. 9406) and parts of structures, doors, windows...HS 761010

    Comes fromChina 89%, 28 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: waste and scrap (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 29k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 11m
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 31 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); China supplies 89 per cent (2).

    USD 26mup 208% on 2022
  20. 20

    Semiconductor media: smart cards, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37HS 852352

    Comes fromMalaysia 61%, 38 source countries
    Nearest export strengthInsulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000... (exports USD 20m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 360k
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 39 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Senegal's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); Malaysia supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 212% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Senegal 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.

  • Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, for... imports USD 322m, exports USD 23m, top source Poland 37%
  • Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound... imports USD 129m, exports USD 14m, top source China 61%
  • Paper and paperboard: sacks and bags of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding... imports USD 62m, exports USD 2m, top source Morocco 83%
  • Fibres: synthetic filament tow, acrylic or modacrylic imports USD 40m, exports USD 187k, top source Japan 87%
  • Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional... imports USD 45m, exports USD 7m, top source Belgium 42%
  • Vehicles: fire fighting vehicles imports USD 33m, exports USD 1m, top source Germany 54%
  • Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not... imports USD 52m, exports USD 20m, top source China 31%
  • Vehicles: break-down lorries, road-sweepers, spraying lorries, mobile... imports USD 32m, exports USD 4m, top source France 28%
  • Plastics: sacks and bags (including cones), for the conveyance or packing of... imports USD 28m, exports USD 2m, top source China 56%
  • Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles: motorised, whether or not fitted... imports USD 33m, exports USD 9m, top source China 48%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 219 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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