Development of trade in the Central African sub-region

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Distr.

ED

E/.C1I..14/CA/ ECOP/ll

19 November 1969 Originals . ENGLISH

ECQNGMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA' ■

Sub-regional Meeting on Economic Co-operation in Central Africa Kinshasa, 17-22 November 1969

. DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE '

THE CKERPEAL AFEICAN StIB-EEGION

1

1 5 7 11

- 24 - 4 - 6 - 10

- 17

.Paragraphs CHAPTER I GENEP4L'ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE SUB-REGION

■■ . : I Structural background - -

II- Population - ■ - - - -

III Gross domestic product

IV Trade and economic relations - -

V Sub-regional transport and communications

^ ■ systems - - _,— - -18—24

i ■ . .

CHAPTER II STRUCTURE OF ■ EXTERNAL TRADE IN CENTRAL AFRICA 25 - 43 I General characteristics of external :

-'"- - 25 - 31

•- ■ - - 32 - 34

- 35-43

■II Balance of trade . Ill The direction of trade

M69-2861

14/ca/ecop/h

CHAPTER in

CHAPTER it

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

tfT OF IMPORTS -

1 The import structure II Commodity composition

III

IT

T OF EXPORTS -

I General characteristics of exports II Commodity composition of exports HI Hrports ?f selected agricultural

commodities — " _

products - TRADE

I General features

II

C°ngO (democratic

) and the OTEAC countries III Plow of trade between Cameroon and the

Equatorial Customs Union _

I The problems of trade expansion - II Prospects for trade expansion - III Summary and programme of action for

trade expansion in Central Africa

Paragraphs . 44 - 72

44 - , 46

47--. 54

55 - 61 62 - 72

73 - 97

73 74 - 81 82 - 88

98

111

111

113 ■

- 97 -110

- 123

- 112

- U4 115 116 -

124 -

124 - 129 -

149 -

-123

■ 161

■ 128 148

161

- 11

■ ' ■ - ■ , Chapter I ■

"■ ' ,7 .:*:. ;;,genM&l economic structure of the .sub-region

I.' Structural background ■ , . . . " ■

1. ■: The Central' African sub-region 1/ covers^an area ;»*■ ^

square kilometres representing about one-fifth °f^J^fJ^^ieT of the: African .continent. The total population-of the IIDMC countries

and Cpigo (Democratic Eepublic of) was estimated at 2-6 million -^5,

;and this represented nearly one-tenth of the total population of ■Africa. 2/

2. /Four countries of the' sub-region, namely,-Chad, Central Eepublio, EW9nda' and Burundi, are landlocked and their..«*f to pass through one.or the other of the countries with port

i''L

to pass through one.or the other

d d Bdi are the smallest f

in'terins.of'aLe, Ewanda: and Burundi are the smallest, ..f^f.^.0^^

while Chad and Congo (Democratic Republic of) have the largest land surface

areas.

3. :'A11 :the countries of the sub-region are assoototed with the-.European,

C TTOEAC ti have strong eoono^°^^e tles

3. :A11 :the countries of the subregi

Economic Community;; the TTOEAC countries have strong eoono^°

with France, while Congo (BemOoratio Eepublic of), Ewan^/«f ^ioh maintain trade and economic ^ies with Belgium. Except for Cameroon «hich joinodShe TOEAC in!966,the remaining member States.of the UDE&C consti

l' h conomic unit under the former ^^1^t^

joinodShe TOEAC in!966,the g

tutl'cne homogeneous .economic unit under the former ^^^^

Union. Ewanda and Burundi formed a free trade■area until 19«4 when the

countries were separated on the attainment of independence. ■ ■ . 4. Like-the-rest of Developing Africa, 3/ the Central African sub-region 1i^httdb a general-low rate of-development: as lnM*^l0W

f l bistence

1is^hHraoteTt2edby a generallow r ^e

TDer capita incomes; predominance of a large subsistence. sec*Or^MA-®*

large contribution of agriculture to the national incomes; heavy dependence

onl-feW commodities for the major part of the export earnings; !a* cf a manufacturing base' on which modern industries are ^sedv and -the shortage ,of skilled manpower and technical know-how necessary to ao°|le^ *he rate

of-economte development. These factors,make the standard of Imng the sub-region, relatively lower than'that of other developing areas of-the

world.

l/The present study covers in detail Cameroon, Central African Republic,

J Chad! Congo (Republic of)f Gabon, and Congo (Democratic Republic of-),.

!- where data axe available Rwanda and Burundi will also.be covered.;' . ■ 2/ See E/CH.14/L.32O/Rev.l, page'l. . ■■'■ '' ;:

^/.■Excluding, South. Africa. ■ :. .. ^ .-. ...■■■.:.."■ ■ -T.--.-y.

Page 2

II. Population

5- The rate of growth of population over the last ten years in most of the countries of the sub-region has been higher than that for other , developing countries* For instance., in, Cameroon the population at mid- 1967 was estimated at ,5»5 million w.ith a growth rate of 2.2 per''■ cent per annum between 1958 and 1966. In .Central African-Republio-^he'/population

was estimated at 1.5 million .persons in 1966 and a growth rate of 2.0

'per. dent; per1 annum.1,- For Chad"-the population estimates stood at 3._4 million 'in'l^66rtfith a growth j?aie, (1956-I.966) of 1*5: per cent per /annum; Congo

(Republic of) in ml$~l96j estimates of population were 8$9-OOO wi^tir.a . growtE/rat? of .1.6... per toetf'f ljper. annum between.1958 and"'l966y .Gaboon had '

473>OOO people in mid-1967, with a growth rate of Iv5''p'er 'cent per annum

(1953-1966)1 the Congo (Democratio Hepublic of) hada pPpulation.estimated

at 16.'4,:miiiion peiople;:in.'mid-I967',■ and a growth ra'te df"2.2 per annum

between. t958 'and 1:§S6'5. Rwanda's'.po^ulation'was estimated-at' 3 --1" million

.in 1965 .with a. growth rate o: 3d per cent; while Burundi had a population pf 3*.2 -million'in. X968) with a growth rate.of 2.0 per,, cent per annum.

6. It will thus be noted that.Congo (Democratic Republic of) has the highest, population.followed by Chad, Burundi and Rwanda. . On the other bl.Gabon and the'Central African Republic have the'lowest .population the lowest rate' of growth. ."From the estimates It isr further "shown

^.5.ongp (Pemocratic Republic of) has about 58' per cen't of'the total population of the sub-region- ' In terms of population den.sity3 Cameroon has..tHe highest, .density of,9°l persons per square kilometre followed by Congo. (Democratic Republic of) with 6.5 while Gabon"has the lowest.density of 1.7. The average population density of the sub-region is'about 5^persons per square kilometre, l/ '

^^ opulation, 1960-1966 in

V

.'Central African sub-region

tear;

I960 1961 1962

1965 1964

1966

Gross domestic pro_duct Total GDP

(Billion

2.54

2.59 2.55

2,52

2-.54'

2.62 2.66

84,0

82.5

82.0

73^5

77.07&.0.

77.0 Source : ECA, A

Parts 1 and 2O

a/ At i960 market prices

Population

Growth rate

Grew bh rate' " ■

of per capita population

'GDP (in millions)

0.4 1.6 -2.1 p.8 3.1 1.5

1.9 1,7 4*3 1.4 1.0 1.2

30.2 30.9

31.6

32.1 32-8

34.4

(e/CU,14/4O9:) , 1967

l/ See ECA3 3tatiaji_cal_ Bulletin for Africa, No,2, Part 1, (March 1967).

Pa^e 3

Gross domestic product .

7. Although statistics on national accounting in Africa have improved . in recent years the lack o£ adequate and up-to-date national accounting

returns in,.the EGA secretariat prevents reasonable'assessment 'of the actual levels qf development of the African countries./ According to ECA

estimates l/ in some 21 countries which account1for over 62 per cent of

the total population of developing Africa^ the. Gross Domestic Product per capita was less than US$100, . Most of the countries of the Central African sub-region fall within this category. :ln l$65:3 the GDP per capita of the sub-region was about US$78->-9 but it is "believed that when

Congo (Democratic Republic of) is excluded the per capita GDP within the

UDEAC was generally higher than for the whole sub-region taken together.

The 'average rate of growth of per capita GDP was less than 1 per cent per

annum for the whole sub-regiono ' ■

8.- In Table V it is shown that the Gross Domestic Product has not grown substantially between i960 and; 1966 for the sub-region.* This is partly

attributed to the economic stagnation of the Congo (Democratic Republic of)-

during the first half of the 1960Ts= The GDP growth rate fluctuated between 0»4 percent in 1961 and 1.5 per cent in 1966 while the growth rate of-per capita GDP has actually been negative3 suggesting1 that popula

tion grew faster than CSP* ] ■■-

9* The breakdown of GDP by industrial origin as shown in Table 2 indicates that agriculture predominates in the contribution to GDP. It-will be noted

-that of the total GDP of US$2n42 billion in'1966, agriculture _contributed

US$0.93 billion ::or nearly 38.per cent.' Next- to importance in ,GDP is

Commerce wi!th US$0.36 billion, followed by manufacturing and electricity ■

with US$0.34 billion. Transport contributed about USfeddO of .the GDP.

This pattern is :not peculiar only' bo this sub-region but is true for. the rest of developing Africa. It is further shown that for developing Africa out of the total GDP of US$30,51 billion in 1966? agriculture .contributed US$10.86 billion which Is around 38 per cent,, ■ : ■

10. Industrial produotiou has not yet shown great impact on the GDP for most countries of the sub-region,? though for Individual1 countries-such as Congo (Democratic Republic of) and Gabon3 the mining industry plays an

■important role in the GDP. Thus between i960 and I9665.manufacturing industry contributed'about 14 per cent of the GDP while construction contributed .about 3 P©*1 cent, There was a general increase in-output of the manufacturing industry, between 1965 and I966 for:the entire sub- region, and it is estimated that in 1967 manufacturing output rose to between'25 and 3(3 per cent compared with I964. The industrial: production is mainly export-oriented though import substitution is.;being established in such industries as textiles? assembly plants, cementiand sugar refining.

In-Xongo (Democratic Republic of) the manufacturing industry is.largely

geared to the. domestic market? while in Rwanda and Burundi the:manufactur ing industry; is virtually ;non-existent.. * ; ■ ,'■

l/ E/CIUI4/409.

(in billion US|)

^^ ■otalGDPofwhich Agriculture Manufacturingand electricity Construction-. Commerce Transport Otherservices:

Public administration

Tource;EGA,S

i960.

1963-1966

2.36 0.89 0.35 0.07 0.41 0.09 0.16 0,25

2.34

0.92 0.31 0.08 0=4l 0.09 0.16 0.24

Lt!!f 1964 1965

2.32 0.88 O.34 0.08

0.34

0.09 0.16 0.29

2.39 0.9l

0.34

0.08 0.35 0,10 0.17 0.30

a/ At I960 factor cost. / Excluding South Africa

2.42

0.93 o.l4

0.34

0.08 O.36 0.10 0.17

25-32 10.03 1.09 2.81 1.06. 3.32

1.44 3.47

2,10

Developing Africa b/

27-58 11.00 3.09 1.16 3-42 3.45

29.01 11.02 I.9.7 3.28 1.16 3-54 1,68 3.63 2.73

10.94

2,06 3*49 1.25 3-67

1,79 3--82"

2.80

2.32 3.60 3.78

3.91

2.87

1967, Part, 1 and 2, pages. 22 and 23.

o o o o

-Page 51

IV. Trade and economic relations

11. Trade and Economic links within the sub-region are at present confined to countries which had relations during -.the. colonial era, and as such

there is not yet established an institutional machinery linking all the countries of the sub-region- There1 has always been ;-so:me flow of trade

between"-Congo (-Democratic Republic of) and the UDEJAC countries but there

were no formal, trade arrangements, before the establishment of UEAC= .Rwanda and.Burundi constituted a"free trade-area but at the time of independence in 1964 these, ties were broken and no formal trade arrangements now exist between the two countries. The countries'-constituting the UDEACj have an- elaborate arrangement covering trade relations as well as relations in other fields of development.; .. ; '■'."";. ■■ _ ■.'.'. ...,."...".' '. .,■..../.•■ ■ ■ -&. The Cen-faral African Economic'and Customs Union ' ■ ■ ■ '■ ■

12.: The' Union douaniere et economique d_e l!.Afrique . c.enfccaj-e.' (XXDEIAC.) wa,.s;/-

established in I966 and now consists of four!:countries',,'namely, Central > -

African Republic3 Congo ('Republic of), Gabon and Cameroon, l/ The: Unions

like other economic groupings in Africa, was established to preserve the trade and economic links which existed-under the. colonial administration*

The countries aimed- at gradual establishment of■a Central African common market through the expansion of the small national'markets by the removal of tariffs and trade, barriers?, by adopting a procedure., for the. equitable sharing of industrial projects; and the co-ordination of programmes for the development of various economic sectors.

13; .Among the principal objectives the UDEAC countries set out to achieve the1 following* ■'■ '• "' -"■ ■" < ■-■"■■■■ ■ ' . ' " ' ■ ■ ■■

(a) a common external tariff - goods originating from member States

, :. are. ,exem,p.t from .all. import, and export_ charges.. An Jnter-State

Solidarity Fund was also instituted to compensate the inland

partner States for the loss of revenue from import duties?

(b)., a common.market with complete freedom of,.movement .of goodsj,

capital a.nd persons, between the member States? . . ' .

(c) financial Q'oiBpens:ation 'arrangements1 involving a sum "of l

million francs (CFA) from the coastal and the'more industrialized .countries to the inland countries; ... :

(d) a special system' of 'distribution of production tax revenue

("tax unique") between the producing and the consuming countries^ 2/

l/ Cameroon joined .the UBSAC- in. 19669 after cpntacts-with the other four .

countries which formed the Equatorial Customs Union' since 1959>

2/ ^ax unique -"tax unique"is a production tax levied on all manufactured

goods whose market tends to embrace a number of member States. The tax is collected by the exporting country,and is distributed to member States in proportion to the consumption of the product. The purpose of this system is to compensate the importing country for the .duty lost by importing from a, member State.

Page 6

(e) other arrangements providing for consultation and harmonization

• procedure on fiscal .systems, . the harmonization of development plans, and the, regulation ,o.f foreign and domestic'investments.

14. Economic relations between .^the UDEAC and Congo (Democratic Republic .of)

have so far been confined to .trade.. Elsewhere in'the Central African sub- region, Rwanda-and Burundi, have hardly any economic relations with the

UDEIAC.3 but there, is. some trade with'Congo (Democratic Republic of). .Equa

torial Guinea on the. other hand has not yet established any trade links

with the Central African;sub-region. .:, ■ - : ■■ •■■"'■} /■,■■■". ..,r.; -.' j , ■ B. UEAC - The Union of Central African States ...

15. In April 1968, two former members of .UDBAC .(CAR and Chad) and ;, Congo (Democratic Republic of) formed a new economic Union - the Union des Etats d'Afrique Oentrale (UKAC), 1/ The purpose of this Union is- to set

up Common Market between the contracting States. ,In order to bring about the Common Market arrangements the States agreed to: . .•■■..':.

^ ■ .(a) adopt a joint import tariff or customs and excise charges-. , .

against third countries and abolish import and export duties.

.. between the member States? , .

■ ("b)i eliminate all obstacles' to free movement of capital, persons,

"■ " goods and services between member States? " ' - ' .

(c) adopt a joint economic policy to ensure a steady and balanced

., economic expansion1-, stability and a rapid rise, in the standard . of living of the member States by co-ordinating domestic, taxa tion policies, development plans-and co-ordinating of industrial

development1 . . :

(d) co-ordinate the development of transport and communications

between the member States; ■

(e) set up a compensation and investment fundj

(f) introduce a consumption tax designed to,encourage .the consump-,

1 tion of goods' originating in the member States; ■ -:

(g) devise appropriate steps to increase trade between the member

;.-" Sta.tes.f- and . "■"■. > ' . v " "".

(h) set up an investment bank to facilitate the economic expansion

in the Union by creating new resources.

1/ In December 1968, the Central African. Republic withdrew its membership

from UEAC and rejoined UDEAC. ... ■ ' . . ' . . '

■■ E/ClTa'4/CA/ECOP/ll

Page 7

.:co-operation

16,. Under .the:.auspices ,of ...the ECA a conference on Economic. :Co-ope.ration was.-held-in Br,azzavi-lle:.in April 1966.. It was recommended at -this conference .that a committee at ministerial. leyel be established.by,governments of

the area "to propose methods of organizing economic co-operation among them," 'The meeting also requested the ECA to study measures aimed at -increasing the;flow of trade "between -the member States of the sub-region.

■■17.? The,..ECA. organised a. mission on. economic co-operation In Central"

^Africa 1/ -.which ;.r-ecpmmen.dedj amoag .other things^ ■arr .outline--for 'co-ordinated industrial development programme for the sub-region' covering -a'-'period. of 10-15 years- Other studies covering various aspects of economic activity,, transport have .keen prepared, by the secretariat., .It ■i'-s 'proposed; that these studies ; would- form :the basis for- dis/eussions among, .the. member: -Spate's1'for liberalization- of., trade and: harmonization of' industrial development.■■:■■

V..: .■ Su-brrregional. transport, and, communications systems' '■*>■:. "•. ■ -■ '

18. The lack of adequate means of transport and communications throughout

-Africa;.arer.weliljy^nown. . ¥.ha-t;.i&;;^equired^here is;_ftc;.unde_rline.:£*he .need for . spme:.f.prm:. of-, -cp-^prdinated transport, development to: ensure- that" ■■fcra&sjiort

sj^tems,:,frerfully/,uti.li-2ed. both-Within each individual .state-and- iihr-'Pugh-

^::^'^rr?ie-g^9?1'-r' Tliei Central-. African sub-region- particularly- suffers'

this,/problem. w-M;ch: has: contributed greatly.to. .the problems 'of 'trade t/ln,..the,:,area*- -The major transport, links are orien'ted1 tb":"over- sea.s...tra(de!ari,d..;.giye,v.no regard.to^ inter-State link-s..- Even within^-the" tIDEAC .,the,.,transport Links between-the member-States' require: to be greasy 'expand

ed to cater for the present and future growth of trade. ;.; ■■-■■./■'

19- In Cameroon there are three principal road links. The first one runs East-West from Douala to Batouri^ second South-North from Ambam to Yaounde9 continuing to Bertocea and Kora| and the third road runs from Douala to Ngaoundere. Cameroon is connected with Gabon by one road which runs from Ebolowa through Oyem to Lambarene3 and with Central African Republic by a road which runs from Ngaoimdere through Bouar to Baugui. There are two -

direct road links with Congo (Republic of) and Chad. Her railway line

runs from Douala to Nkougsamba and from Douala to Yaounde. In 1964 work had been scheduled for a trans-Cameroon railway line to run from Yaounde to Balabo. No railway links exist with the neighbouring States.

20. The Central African Bepublic has a road link from Bangui to Chad at

Fort Lamy and from Bangui another road links with Cameroon. Within the

Republic there is a good road system. The Oubangui and Congo rivers provide a river transport link to the railhead at Brazzaville from where a railway line links with the coast at Pointe Hoire. There are no rail

way lines linking with other States. Congo (Democratic Republic of) is

well linked with Central African Republic by roads to Kisangani and by

river system to KinshasaD ,'.-■"■

l/ See: Report of the ECA Mission on Economic Co-operation in Central

Africa (E/CF.I4/L.32O/Rev,l), 1966. ,

r~

E/GN.14/CA/ECOP/il

Page 8 .

21- Chad is connected with Central African Republic ;by road,which runs from Fort Lamy to Bangui, and with Nigeria? another road runs from Fort

;Lamy to. Sudan.■ - Sue to thevlow level 'of economic development Chad has -:>een,una'blevin the past-to develop ."better transport system. It is .hoped

that.:the trans-Cameroon,railway line-now under construction'wilX-eventually

■ extend t.p .Pprt* Archambault in Chad. ■' '' ■ ■ ■ - " ■■ ■ "

■• 22.-> ".-Congo-.--(Republic, of) .has a major road link which runs to.:.Pointe Noire and another, road runs North to Ouesst. A railway line'runs from Brazzaville

to Jointe Noire... The Congo river .and its tributary^ ;the':du;i3angui .provide , goodUwa-terways.. throughout the year, connecting Bra^aayi'lle^wit'h'Bangui

in Central African Republic- ■ ': -': :■■ ■ ' ' ■ .'■ :: '■' -

23- Gabon1 has road connexions with Yaounde in Cameroon and down South :with ::Pointe Noire in Congo .(Republic of). Within :Gabon a good road- net

work exists. It is believed that .studies for the construction of a rail

way line from Owendo to Belinga was undertaken in 1968 but work on the

line has not yet-been started.. A-railway line runs from, pointe. Noire

through Dolisie to Moanda in'Gabon. .

.-24- Congo (Democratic Republic of) has three short road stretches running from; Matadi to Kinshasa and then .on to Kenge. Another stretch runsfrom - Kolweaito Lubumbashi. then on to NMola in Zambia. A third road link

.runs from Kisangani, to Bukanu in Rwanda and then on to Bujumbura' in'Burundi.

Some seasonal road links exist with Central African Republic. The Congo

river provides water transport links with Central African Republic. A'

railway line runs from Kinshasa to Matadi on the coast and from Port

Franqui to Lubumbashi and then on to the Zambian border5 railway'another

line through Angola to Lobito. . .

Page 9

■ ; - ■ ■■■■-.■■ Chapter IX " " ■■■ .'" :

' '...' .STRUCTURE OF EXTERNAL .TRADE IN CENTRAL AFRICA^ . /

IV- ■ General Characteristic's of external trade '" ■■

25- The development of external trade in the Central African sub-region^

as is the case with the rest of developing Africa, shows two important characteristics5 -firstly,'a high dependence on one or two commodities for a relatively large share of export earnings of the member . States, and -• secondly, fast growing imports especially of foodstuffs and capital goods.

'Since the value content of food and capital goods is relatively higher than that :of agricultural commodities and other raw materials, and since the exports of these countries have grown relatively .slower than imports over the last decade/ .the result has been chronic adverse "balances of

■ trade for most of the countries- This is due to the lack of'a .significant

manufacturing "bases especially in those industries geared to import

substitution. Taking a general picture of the-sub-region, therefores ' export' trade has not expanded as faat as would have "been necessary 'to

offset the "balance of trade deficits, though in a: few countries there were healthy signs of a growing export "base, '

26. Between 1955 and 1965, the imports of Cameroon grew from l8?162.2 to 37-?7O5-5 million francs .(CFA) giving an increase of about 210 per bent while the exports grew from' l6j545«2 to 34*409*7 million francs'("CFA)

showing an increase of about 211 per cent. This shows that exports grew at nearly- the. same rate as imports and since imports were-greater than exports the trade situation of Cameroon did not therefore improve over

this period. ' ' . . ■ " ' ■

27,. The Central African Republic trade 2/ figures also indicate that

imports grew faster than exports giving a constant deficit in trade balance. For instance,, in 1955s i^s imports amounted to 3,142 .million

francs (CFA) while the exports were 29773 million francs- (CFA) making a trade deficit of 369 million francs (CFA), In 1965S the imports stood at 6,770 million-francs (CFA) while the'exports were 6,507 million francs

(CFA) showing a deficit of 263.million francs (CFA). though'the'value of

exports appears to have grown' faster "than the importsV the'trade deficit situation did not improve significantly,

28. For the Chad Republic, while imports grew from 4,246 million francs-

1 -(CFA) in 1955 to-7^700 million francs (CFA) in 1965 showing an absolute

. increase .of about 84 per cent, the exports increased from 39439 million francs (CFA) to : 6,722- million francs (CFA)9; an increase of about 97 per ' cent. ■ The trade deficit grew from 807 million francs" (CFA) in 1955s ^°

978 million francs (CFA) in 19653 an increase of about 21 per cent.

1/ Excludes trade within the UDEAC

2/ External trade for Central African Republic, -Chad, Gabon and

Congo (Republic of) excludes- trade within the,- UDEAC member States.

Page" 10

29, In Congo (Republic of), there was a. significant increase in the value of exports from 1,798 million francs (QFA) in 1955 to 11,512 million francs (CPA) in 1965 an increase of nearly 539 per cent. The imports, on the other handj increased from 7,520' to 15,974 million francs (CPAj over the ..

same period, showing an increase of about 112 per cent. It must be pointed out, however? that although exports grew faster' than imports ihe country has had large deficits throughout the' period 1955 to 1965? and for 1955

to 1962 the deficit was considerable. , ■

30* Gabon, .has.had a-gopd trade increase between .195.5 :and-l'965 'With, ia sizable favourable balance of trade. In 1955 the imports stood .at, 3,441

.million francs (CFA) while the exports'amounted to 4,902 "million francs (CFA) giving a favourable balance of 1,421 million- francs '(CFl):. In 1965 the, exports stood a-t. 23,686 million francs (CPA) while the imports we're 1.5?425 million francs (CPA), .showing a positive trade balance of 8?26l million francs (CPA). The trade balance grew from 1,421 to 8,26l million francs (CPA) during the period under review, an increase of over 485 per

cent-

31.. It.is not easy to. evaluate the external trade .for Congo (Democratic

Republic of) since prior to 1-960 the territory included the former Rusnds-

Urundi. Prom July i960 to December 1961, the data exclude Katanga and.

South Kasai for certain periods-' However, the value of external trade has been .fluctuating.considerably between 1955 and .1965= For .instance,

in 1955 imports stood at l8?9-63 million francs (Congolese) but dropped,

to only 6,515 million francs in 1961= In 1962, the imports rose to

16,469 million francs and in 1965 .to 48,195 million francs. The exports, too, fluctuated from.. 229783 million francs in 19553 <3.°wn ^° 5.?.85O million

francs in 1962 but rose to 50,396 million in 1965. These fluctuations may be attributed to the political problems in that country during the first half of the 1960!s.- The country had a favourable "balance of trade throughout the .period 1955 to 19659 except for 1961, when there we, a deficit of 665 million francs.

II. Balance of trade ' ....

32= As was pointed out earlier, for most countries of the sub-region-tha imports £rew.faster- than the exports. In Table 39 for instance for the

Congo (Democratic Republic of)between l'96Oand 1966 the imports grew from

9S253 to 50,486 million francs, while the exports grew-from 16^785 to 69,177 million francs. For Rwanda the imports grew from 600 to 1>,938

million francs (Rwandese). between 1964 and 19663 while for the same

period the exports grew from 578 to 1,174 million francs. The data also show that there was a, general decline in both imports and exports for Cameroon in 19660 while in Central African Republic? Gabon,1 and Congo

(Democratic Republic of) there was a general improvement in'the balance

of trade»

11

s. 1

CMCM CM

r-1 i-H

COo

to'Csl CO

cri

o U)

CO

W 1

Q- >

ilCO oto CM

■—:

"CO [>

l-lto

r-

o

fp

a?

r-i

inrH

is oCM

■\

ii:

ri

CO^1-1

d1m

CO

to r-j to - 'd-

cjOJ

- edlSI

o{

to0) 0) - w

■Do

fll ro! 2:1

Page 12

33*. The data in Table 4 shows the balance of trade for each of the countries cf the sub-region. It will be noted that except for Cameroon.,

Gabon and Congo (Democratic Republic of) which had favourable visible

balances of trade throughout the period i960 to 1966,.the rest of the countries had deficit "balances- The.Central African1 Republic had a small favourfible "balance of trade in 1966 after "a persistent adverse

"balance- This may be due uo a n^o iii _ tub prices of diamonds and an

increase in the volume of exports of coffees cotton and,lumber (timber).

34- 'For Cameroon v?..: tl:-. ;. ,.-_.. _.: ■ ^ _:.j'topped ::.;; .& an all tine level of

63372 million franca (OFA) in 1963 to only 109 million francs (CFA) in 1966. In Oo:d.£c (Republic of) the deficit balance deolinep. from -12,917 to -7S 611 million francss (CFA).-between i960 and 19-66,, showing that her trade position i.c probably improving * In Congo (Democratic "P.epublic of) the favourable'balance increased 'from 5sO51 to 1&,691 million francs from"

1962 to 1966. In Gabon; too, the favourable balance increased from 3?859 to 8,460 million francs (CFA) lpetween'1960 and 1966 =

III s The direction of trcde

35? A quick glance at Tables 5 nnd 6 shows that much of the trade of' the countries cf the Central African sub-regioh is with the West European countries especially the EEC,- and the United St:* tera of America. Trade with the socialist countries of Eastern ■Europe, including the USSH is very small indeed. This is largely due to political and economic ties which existed during the Colonial period, From Tables £1 through 30?

which sho?: intor-African trades it will .be noted that the! sub-region as a whole, .ba3 ■iitiLi'c:LV^.'Ly.l-j.T,tlp trade with the African countries? this fact also he ids gocc. for individual countries. A great deal has still fco be done to. iirorovo int1-?;^,-African tradso

Camerocn

30. Eost of i.L.9 :Li2p-;i.L-t-3 of Car.1. Tiro on come from the EEC, especially France*

In r°S5s imports from France amounted to 19*356 million francs '.(CFA) or a

little over 57 per Od:.'1;, 'a'.,- :\-::;^ :'.;::. I^j.:^- ^r..;^ »£,£;. ii'esf Gei/inauy, iollowed by Unite-I F-^to-s niad Belgium — Lii^eni'bcurg. The greatest vnlue >of exports went'to Franco ya 1^6;;v uooaunting for nearly 48 per cent-. Other principal importing ocunvri'yci' were - tLu ^^LL^'iatido., ciix^ed states aad West Germany.

Central Africp.'u Rq-ou^V-.c

37

196^5 imports Iron Franco accounted for e^ocv.t '6lj per cent of the

total imports ior Central African Republic.' There-iyere sizable imports

from the ILii ted Kingdoms the Uuited States*, fle&t Gerina.ny and the Netherlands.

Most ;of tli© exports froni Csntrc.7. African Hepablic went to France, which absorbed nearly 33 per pent foilowed by the United States"which accounted for about 13 per cent of her exports, while ..tbe United "Kingdom."and the Netherlands each accounted for just over 6 pei1 oentn

■ b/ct.h/ca/ecop/ii

: Page 13

Table 4 : Central African sub-regions visible balance of trade (value in million CFA francs)

Country

uameroon-

Central African

. Republic^/

Congo (Rep. of'a

Gabon-/ i

Gongo (Dem. Rep.

of)

Rwanda Burundi

Equatorial Guinea

I960 , 196I 1962

1963 1964. 1965 .1966

3,, 100 482

434; 6,374 1,680 1,111

-1,534 -2,090 -2,960 -1,227

-12,917 -14?662 : 3,859 4,936--

7,532 ■. -301.

-2,493 -1,072; -229;

-3,330 -1,562 -1,993

-T?6O6 -4,967 -4,3l6;

4/474 5,9B5 8,511.

3,927 8.

-64 -22

109

10 -1949O -7,6ll 8,460 -263

-978 -4,462 8,261

2,201 18.

-344 -764

j°urce- : United Nations/ Yearbook of International Trade Statistics, 1963

1966» , ■ ■ ■.. '

(oc») data not available. ■

bJ Excludes trade within UDEACo :

0$o CD!sj a/ Table5:Directionoftrade(imports)oftheCentralAfricansub-region,1965(Value-inmillionCFAfrancs) > fed o o f-i -p o

c o Q. e

u> r-i <D CD

a! X 3

Cameroon"-.33,299 CentralAfricanRep,6,770 Chad7,700 Congo(Rep.of)15,974 Gabon,15,425 Congo[Dem,Repnof)48,195 Rwanda1,047 Burundi...

1,221. 156 209 588 277

19,356 4,094 3,575 9,720 9.022

2 1

,380 385 817 912 ,071

1,078 144 151 366 ■268

657 208 .157 436 418

:4:34 148 969 ...244 251

cc to

5752,008868 285411110 166687201 430967168 4671,803179- .1.5,9572,1812,7091,6119511,1481,90311,3871,083 274261171437■..;:.44'4746

65. 30 17 14 1A:- A

141 29 98. 48 62 593.

... 1 57 ?.. «B=

»..;1122311 ...\UB18132 ...-9...28 5952221 14t,;37204 25-;,414364204 11U-9 Source:UnitedNations,YearbookofInternationalTradeStatist!cs,'1966..■' a/ForCongo(Democrat!cRepublic3f),RwandaandBurundivalueinmillionfrancs,....Negligibleordatanotavailable.

a/ -Table.6;.Directionoftirade{exports)oftheCentral.Africansub-.pegion,.1965^:(Value-,In;.millionCFAfpancs)

i. a>

0) Os o"OU) o.x

■(0■- .e.- c

■ 1* a_

■C -*— ni Q. (O

t-l W o .tJ) 115 >■

ra .n) .c (0

■o

-01. ■3■ H-1'.

0) N 4^ «-. 3

3 N C .Cameroon.29,330"56414,0892,407"9324,655113553,072,316-,..,'85516--..."■.;.4.'5 .CentralAfrican.Rep..6,5071032,453-72..275404....''459861.34,,,.o'ti-t6E.39n,^0O0ioo

Chad .. ";6^22-. - - 422 AG40 74", -. ..,." ^37 ;.. .. 554 „.' -73 ... ./ .8 ../ 804 .„ ... ..'. Congo (Repo of) ' _ 11,512 .' 387 ; 1,076, S,414 _ 89.; 2,930 ...' 2,623 65 . 7 .., .-" 82 ..c ... -44 '■ 64

Oabon'23,686...16011,4772,545170.558;;...^

\

8624,334.-.35,0.,122-279....59/■„.55

Ctngo (Dem. Rep, of) 50,255. ..27,376 . 3,48.2. 2,889 . 5,281 1,361 '" ... . 4,189 2,122 9 .,„ ... 214 ... 43 ,., 373 Rwanda' ■ 703.; '" 267;:-" 5 .. 24 ... j /^z" ... -is 345 ... ... ..,..,„ ..„ .... '3 ■;.... ... " - ••?'■■• -. ->- ■'■•••■ '";■■ •« ■■-/. -.;." ... ■ ... ..v ,.. „,. ,^....>., .... ».;■•>„ 'a..

Source;UnitedNations,YearbookofinternationalTradeStatjstics,1966«...■'.: o

a/ For Congo iDejn, Rep. of}, Rwanda and Burundi value in million fpancs. ,,. Neglt'gl ble or data not, avai lable, -~; ":;. ::- ., -

o > £0o VJt

E/CU.14/CA/EC0P/11

Page 16

Chad

38. The biggest source: of imports .ifor^Chad is prance which accounted for about 42 per cent o£ her total imports;i followed by the Netherlandss

about 13 per cent,and the United;States aboiut 5 per cent. I West Germany and Belgium-Luxembourg are also important supplier's,, The "bulk of Chad's

exports go to France.which: accounted for ..about 50 per cent, of her total exports- in 1965. ^Yugoslavia was; ttie next in importances and accounted . for about 13 per cent of Chad's exports followed by the United Kingdom and Belgium-Luxembourg.:;

Congo (Republic of) • -

39- About 60 per':cen-t af her imports :came from France in 1965. Next in

importance were t)ie United'States and West Germany each of;which accounted

for about 6 per cent* Other imports came from.Belgium-Luxembourg, and

the Netherlands, . Congo"(Republic of) has slightly more diversified export

partners .'than for|.her., imports. In 1965 the principal importing countries

were the Netherlands:2,930 million francs'-(CFA) 5 the United Kingdom with.

2,623 million fraiics; West Germany .2,414 million francs (C]PA).$ and France 1,076 million fraiics :'(CFA). '- ■ ■ r ■ ''

Gabon . '

40.' Gabon imported 9,022 million francs (CFA)^worth of goods from France

and this accounted for just.over 60 per cent of the total imports in 1965.

Other principal suppliers were the United States .and.West Germany. Gabon' .

also imported 204 million francs (CFA) worth of goods fromiVenezuela. The

bulk of Gabonese exports' went to France which, in 1965* absorbed about. 43 - per cent pf her total exports. The United States "absorbed about 17 per1 cent and West .Germany over 8 per cent.. Together these three countries accounted.for 68 percent of the 'torfcal' exports ^ Other important countries.

were the United Kingdom9 the Netherlands and Spain., Like the p-ther

countries:Gabon imports more from France than she exports to 'that country.

Congo (Democratic;Republic) ' ' - ■ ■ ; . -

41* In 1965s Congo (.-Democratic Republic of) imported 15S957 million francs (Congolese) from Belgium-Luxembourg .which is her principal trading partner;

this was nearly 33 per cant of her total imports. The United States was

second in importance ancL accounted for-over.: 22: per. cent. Cjther ..principal

suppliers wer.e West Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy^.Japan3

Spain and Portugal. In 19659 Belgium-Luxembourg imported 27j37:'6 million francs (Congolese) orabout,54 per cent of the.total exports of Congo (Democratic Republic 0$. Italy imported 5,281 million, francs'; the United Kingdom 45I89 ^million' franc.si France 3,482 million francs\ West1 Germany

2,889 million'francs and ^the United States 2,122 million francs. Congo Democratic; Republic of) had'a favourable trade balance with Belgium-

Luxembourg in 1965. : l ■ '■■'..

'Page 17

Rwanda ...

42. The most important trading partner for Rwanda is also Belgium- Luxembourg. In 1965 imports from Belgium-Luxembourg came to 274 million

francs (Rwandese) or about 20 per cent. Other.suppliers.were West

Germany, the United Kingdom9 the United States and Japan. -Rwanda, exported 345.- million francs to ■ the. United States .in .1965 which was nearly 41 per cent and to Belgium 267 million francs or about 30 per cent .of her total exports. . Other'principal countries were West Germany1 and the United Kingdom.

43" . To sum up.s three important factors emerge from this Chapter. Firstly, generally .speaking, imports of the sub-region grew faster than the exports

for th~e'period, i960 to -1965* .There is no reason to believe "that the"

situation has. changed in recent years. Secondly, 'most of the :countries

•of the sub-region have deficits in their trade balances with the developed countries. Thirdly, much of the trade of the UDEAC countries is with the

EEC, especially France. For Congo (Democratic Republic of) her.most

important trading partner is Belgium-Luxembourg which account for a very

large proportion of her imports'. The United States of America is also

an. important, trading partner, for Congo (Democratic Republic c^)n The trade

pattern has existed, since the colonial era and if the position is to "be changed significantly in futures considerable effort will have to be made.

;E/CN.14/CA/EC0P/l;l

Page 18

Chapter III

. '.. .- . .. . : ^DEVELOPMENT OF IMPORTS^/ : ' v .■

!• The import structure ." . ... .-■■'.■ ...-■_;.

. .44. As with most African .countries, .there' has been a general upward.'

.trend' an. imports ,of all 'countries of the, .Central .African .suh-region;:-,

"' "between i960 and 1966. Taking the entire sub-region the indices -of. - imports would show a considerable .increase in the Value of imports.. "In

■..some ..case's' the value, of imports has more than doubled over the-period.*

"Furthermore;, <as..wa;s note.d-.earlier:, ;the import's ■^a-ve,'\iende.d:'.'.t.o' grow ;

than the'exports, making .problems of trade deficits more acute..

45.'". The data given in Tables J to 13 -siio'ff the import structure, for . countries of the sub-region. In Cameroon the. imports rose from 20y8l2 to 33,298 million francs (CFA) between, i960 and 1966y in Central African Republic 'from 4,957 to 7,581'million francs (CFA)j Chad from 6,253 to■

7? 383 million francs (CFA). Congo(Republic) the imports, fell frpm

,17,407 tp. 17,17.2 million francs',(CFA) 1 Gabon from 7,829 to 16,269 million francs (CFA)$ Congo.(Democratic Republic) from 10,677 million francs in

1962 to 48,195 million francs in 19655- and this means that'over the period of four years her imports increased by nearly 353 P©*1 cent. For Rwanda? imports increased from 593 million francs in I964 to IO47 million francs in 1965, an increase 'of about 66 per cent.

46. The general characteristics of the import structure of most of the countries of the sub-region reveal a high import content of foodg

manufactured articles; especially cotton textilesg and machinery and transport equipmentg within this group the import of road motor vehicles is most important, followed by agricultural machinery and implements.

Clothing and footwear also figure prominently in the imports of these countries, followed by mineral fuels and lubricants? especially motor spirit and distillate fuels.

II0 Commodity composition of individual countries

Cameroon

47, Cameroon imports large quantities of food which in I965 accounted

for about 9 per cent of the total imports. As will be noted in Table 73 Cameroon also imports large quantities of alcoholic beverages % petroleum., products; especially motor spirit; other inorganic chemicals % articles ' of rubber% cotton and textile fabrics, road motor vehicles 1 clothings and footwear. Between i960 and' I965 her imports of miscellaneous.

l/ Excludes trade within the UDEAO.

/

Page 19

manufactured articles (SITC 6) rose from 5^005 to 9,994 million francs (CFA) showing an increase of nearly 100 per cent. This shows that there

is a growing market for manufactured.goods in Cameroon. There is very little import of animal and vegetable- oils and fats.

Central African Republic

48c In Table 8 the data .show that there-was an increase in- the imports of food."between i960 "and I966 for Central African Republic, from 537 to only 784 million francs (CFA). Much of the food imports; consist of wheat meal; and flour, which together with cereal preparations and milk and

£ream account for over 50 per cent of the food imports'. The, other, important imports.are motor spirits, .medicinal and .Pharmaceuticals g rubber tyres

and tubes % woven .cotton fabrics; textile fabrics 5 lime and- cementV road

motor vehicles; clothing and-footwear.. ■ . '

Chad . [.■'■'

49* -. ^ie imports ■ (see-Table 9) consist 'mainly of food, especially wheat,

■ mea'.r and flourg fruit and vegetables?, and tea and mate; motor spirits

distillate fuels5 and manufactured, articles such as rubber tyres and tubes;

cotton fabricss textile fabrics (n.e.s.)s lime and cement; and manufactures , of metals. There are also considerable imports of machinery and transpbrt '"

equipments, road motor .vehicless and clothing. There has not .been any marked increase in the imports of individual commodities except in'cotton fabrics and medicinal and pharmaceutical products. The imports of food

stuff slightly dropped between i960 and I966.

Congo (Republic) " ' :. ' . ■ , "

50. "The import of food, (Table 10), formed about 12: per :cent of total imports ih:1966. The main food imports consist of fish, '(fresh or-simply frozen) 1 wheat, and meslin unmilledi and fruit, and vegetables., There . are. also considerable imports of mineral fufels especially motor spirits an^ distillate fuels. On manufactures the country imports large quantities of co-t-ton fabrics; iron.and steel; manufactures of metal; and clothing. There are also considerable imports of machinery and transport equipment> particu- larly road motorjrejdclesi, The imports of. manufactured articles constitute nearly 35 per cent of total-imports while machinery and transport equipment

constitute about 29 per cent. ■ . ' . . .

Gabon '■■■■• ■ ■ : . ■■ ' • \

51'.- In Gabon the imports of food and live animals (see Table 11) increased considerably between:;196O and 1966, from. 927 to 1,484 million francs (CFA) an increase of about 55; per cent.. .The main food items of '■■ imports are milk and cream? fish, fresh or simply preseved; wheat meal and_flour and fruit vege tables. Transport and equipment constitute about 38 per cent of the total imports and of this road motor vehicles are most important. There are also large quantities of imports of manufactured goods, especially cotton fabrics;

rubber tyres and tubes: lime and .cement; manufactures of metal; clothing;-and

footwear. The import of manufactured goods almost doubles between I960 and 1966.

Table .7 ■,s , Cameroon-/; Imports of selected commodi'tjes-' (SITC olassif ic'ation) 1960-196^ ■ * "^ (value in-million francV CffAj ' : "* ' • ■■ ■ '■ " ■ ' .-' <d §

Code

Commodity.

,.;'i960

.1961

I962

1963 1964.

..1965

■ TOTAL IMPORTS " ■- • - -r - - 20,812.4 23,671.9. 25,O43<=9 "26,904.2 32,835:7-33,298.7 0 /Food .and live animals - - - .- 2,832*9 2,839*3 2,967.4 2,623-5 3,3-56.9 2,832,9 Oil

.

Meat, fresh, ohilled or

.frozen

121.9

'

89-6

8.0.0

71.6 71.6' 54.1 '022 . Milk and creain: ■-^ - --- 137,7 150.1 150=1 ' 136*8 2Q0.4 176.*3 031

■-

Fish, fresh, and

-sitoply;frosted

-

42.7.1

357-7 333-5 258.9 46I.I 226.1

032."Fish;Jpreserved,...n,;e.s«.,---180.2160,9II4.4'116.5109.483,4

042

-.Rice--;-.--.■.,---__

263.6

269O

386.6

"113.3

264.6 191.6 046 . Wheat,meal and flqur, etc. - - 515-4 . 623-8 597*4 569.5 594-4 557-6 ■O48 ,. Cereal preparations. - - - - - 179.2 . 171.8 168.8 202.2 . 289,6 279-7

O54-■Vegetables,freshorsimply"' ■.=■■-;

-preserved

--;--

-

--121.4114-094.3110.6114,8

76.5 061 Sugar and honey.. --- 306.6 \ 302.6 366.8 383.6 493.5 43O.O 1 Beverages and tobacco - - - - - 1,237^2 1,598.1 1,599*9' 1,153-5 1,401.1 ■ 1,238.5 112' Alcoholic beverages ---._„ 859.8 1,135=0 1,170.1 810.2 1,124-9 861.0 121 ■- Tobacco, unmanufactured - - - .182.9 221.4 290.5 233.3 !' 186.1 291.8 122 .Tobacco, manufaotured ' - - - - 161.3' ■ 203.4 93.6 62.2 37.8 42.*2

2-,"

Crude .materials,' inedible

■'::

except fuels - - -' - - - - - 42O...6 46I.4 '453.5 ■ 482.8 579.4 608.0 267 Waste materials from'textile fibres 267.3 284.1 276.5 313.3 219.7 361.9 276

,Crudefertilizers.and

minerals,

■:.'

■■ , n-e.ji. - ^.:~: ; - ".-_-■ 110.1.. 141.4 133.5 .115.8 .-206.6 I6O.4

3Mineralfuels,lubricants;:■

related ma-terials . ,." - - " '- -■ 1,606,0 .1,753-6 1,740.6 1,782.0 2., 127-6- .1,658.1 332 ,. .. Petroleum products-; - '- - - 1,576.2': 1,709-9 . 1,713-2 1,7.47*5 2,090.1 1,611.9

.341■Qa'Sjnaturalandmanufactured-'18'»3"'-24.422..5,27.-2

■''o o

Table7:(cont'd).■■■..'■-..^

SITC

~~'~;~

~~

::—'.:-__

Code . : Oocimodlty ^ I960 .19.61 . 1962 1963 .1964 4 Animals and vegetable oils & fats - - - 30.1 "74.8 " 7S fi cu" A oT~~ ~

■c..."f^'-'?*°53.024.235,,

_ —. " 2,706.2 3?6O7.5 3,464.8 4,133.1 4,679-1 4,273.1 ^13 Inorganic elements (alumina) -■ - - - 1,282.V 1 7QQ 7 1 Ain o o ot-i a . inO A . . 514 Other inorganic chemicals 1- . 3OO.4 I^ -/o ^f^-? ^l??*? X'6lM

D$5-Paintsand"varnishes

varnishes ^ I ?^2 ^f 5 541 Medicinal'and, pharmaceutical products - 3^9 ! " " s?a:q %l'l 61 Pertili^rs, manufactured --•---. 1347j JJ.J 559-9 574,9 819.6 ?q ^9tured .cods classify ,Y material , .5,005.4 5,670.2 6,220.4 7,3O7.3 1O.U6.7 9,994-1 629 Articles of rubber --____._ ^an o /,, n ,-,„ „ ,„, 642 Articles of paper, etc g°^ «3.0 432.0 .491.2 575-9 589.2 652 Cotton fabrics, woven - - - - _ _ ■1 l^6 l^s'o , S * n^1 428-9. 415-7 I : ■ ■' g? ' ;"

3

7 w ,,. 3 9"3'3 -173-5 246.5 Y&\l 462'S 7^ Ma^hanerZ_andJr_a^^ 3^,2 ^^^ ^^^ 6?O76.8 - ?? ^3^ ^3^^ 712 S^ul^armwhl^6!7'?0! ^e°*rI! . ''^ 2^^ ..303.6 324.4 358.7 509.5 732 Road.motor vehicles ----__ -1 J{ii o no'] n iH ^52°''' ^5 552.?

■j-o^ow^OJ-y.od,556-42s663o33j-O49.133190,5

3,180.7 2,479.1 2,747.5 "3,062.7. 3,218.5 3,085,9 944-7 665c5 807^9 835.1" 832.6 ,624.0 892 . Printed matter' - - . ,.'. -'.II 53^4 *J p33"7 .7?4a 597-9 ,570.5 893".'" Articles of'artif-ioial'plastic, n.e.s. - 106^6 lis\ ftf? 2ftl#7' ?Io'? ??^°

--■=..■Commoditiesan^-t.'pa-nsan+.invio-«■««-.sr,s■-„■>"/""■'■"■■"■

264.9 317^5 228.6 59.5 125.4 .SaS£££< ^i^'BMibni.VTe^o^^'^teia^o^^aie^Stat^tios', 1963, 1966. ' a/' Prior to 1963, trade of liest Cameroon excluded. ~ b/ Special imports, ci.f

£ O O +

ro

Table8.sCentralAfrican

Republic-'.g

Imports

of

selected

commodities-' (SITC classification).,

I96O-I966 .(valueinmillionfrancsCFA)■'..-.--■o SITC CodeCommodityi9601961

1962

19631964

1965. 1966

0 013 022 024 032 O46 048 074 1 112 267 27 3 332.1 332.2 332.3 332,5 4 5 541 554..-/ 561"' 581

599

TOTALIMPORTS.-..-.-.--- Foodandliveanimals--- Meatj1cannedj"etc.—-'- Milkandcream-—-- .Cheeseandcurd--.■--- Fish-jpreservedn.8ts-._-■-- Wheat?mealandflour-- Cerealpreparations;etc.- Teaandmate---.--.— Beveragesandtobacco________■ Alcoholicbeverages________ Crudematerials9inedibleexceptfuels- Wastepaper.materialsfromtextilefabrics- Crudefertilisersand.minerals.n..e..s.■--- Mineralfuels,lubricants;relatedmaterials- Motorspirit,etc.-■..—-__-_-. Lamp

oil

andwhite

spirit (kerosene) - -

Distillatefuels________ .Lubricatingoilsand.greases-_--_ Animal"andvegetableoilsandfats-- -Chemicals: Medicinal,.and.pharmaceuticalproducts- So.aps1?'cleansingandpolishingpreparations Fertilizersjmanufactured______ Plasticmaterials--- Chemicalmaterialsandproductsn.e.s--

4s

957

537 37 39 ■39 36 100' 37 31 .190

167

89.

5i

241 429 253 60 68 31 11 271 59- 35■

15

OB* 32.

5*479 578 42 35 42 31 121 42 44 I69

145

88 55 23

351 195

38

83 : 31

13 368 99 •

46 26

»■■ 44

6,213 646 44 42- 41 36 ■130 57

55

196 169 107 80 19 307 160 35 '

72

33 20

35?

.. 99 45 21 ■•* 52

6,502 726 47 63 43 "48

150

86

25

315 280 157 13 32 343 144 34

'87 "58

18 477 179 ■61 29 9 43

7,368 733 53 60

45

57 154 62 40 317 282 .109 73 27 328

145 37" 84 ■45

11 526', 154 -68 40 16 74

6,770 725 44

56

45 37

157

104 13 173

147

48

"19

23 466 225 47 104 53 10 .481 131

55

41 47 67

7,581 .

784

44. 79... 38'

65

216'. 105. 22.. 246;■ 216 118

51

.53■■ 425;;

167 ''

39. 96.'

8^ '..

26 ■575-- 200"

■' 89

20 39 60

p0 OQO CDhd ro\-> rot-1

Table8%

(cont'd)

SITC CodeCommodity.I9601961.1962.I963196419651966 6'"Manufacturedgoodsclassified ■bymaterials~-\»IT___ 629Articlesofrubcer?n,e.s.---- 629-1Rubber..tyresandtubes.--- 642Articles'o.f.paperpulp,paper orpaperboard--- 652!Cotton.fabrics?woven:.—■---- 653Textile.fabrics,n,.e.s.--r--.- 656Made1.uparticles,-n.e.s.---- 661Limeandceiiient--- 684Aluminium--- 693Finished..structuralparts---- 7Machineryandtransportequipment-- 718Machineryforspecialindustries 724telecommunication,apparatus--- 732Road,motorvehicles--——-— 8Miscellaneousmanufacturedarticles- 812.'Building,.fixturesandfittings'~-

84I

Clothing

(except

fur

clothing)

-- 851Footwear---■■■~.~-__■_ 9Commoditiesandtransactions?n.e.s.-

405 120 108 39 412 140 122 48 12 276.. 33 44 661 690

69

229'

95

l?5o4 130 109 43 515 186 113 70 24 1,494 25 73 801 754

75

231 131

1,821 ■138 125: 61

617

169 94 132 29

1,639

22 151

775

977 70 341

179

.1,729 179 169

59

611

91

. 132 ■109 34 12 1,742 51- .139 768 966

• 85

308. .

191

2, j •1, 1,

332 208 195 76

789

116 182 132 62 68 878' 100 113

841 125

69 344 288

■1,967 187 175

81 .669 109 82 111 60 34 2,022 ■134 98 830 858 ■84. 217 157

2,205 191 179

98

481 211 110 121 30 .162 2,272

113 136 876

825

60 '244 88 49-.2073

141

2959 SourcesUnitedNations,YearbookofInternationalTradeStatistics?1963,1966

a/

Excludes

trade'within

UDEAC-

and also excludes Cameroon for I966. b/ Special imp.ortsr c .i.-f

o O 9 CDhj

aa/

Chad-' i Imports of a»i

inmillionfranca(TFaT

.classification), 1960-1966

SITC Code 0

013

022 024 046 .048 05 ^{074 1} 112 292 3 332.1 332.2 332.3 332.5

4 '"'

■3■■ 541 554

~~■'...Commodity^"'.■■-■'■'■■"'■'

TOTAL IMPORTS..- -■-■-_ T I I

■Food:and

live animals

---__ Meatcanned,etc.---■■-__ Milkand1cream-'---___ Cheeseand.curd.-"■'*-"--_'__" wheatmealandflour,etc.--_

Cereal

preparations--.--.-,_ ■Fruitandvegetables----_ ..Teaandmate.-.---__ Beveragesandtohacco

-

-

_ _

_ Alcoholicbeverages■----_

Crude

material's,

inedible

exceptfuels'-"-'■■--„^"

Crude vegetable materials, n.e.s. - Mineral fuels, 'lu'bricants; related

.materials-"~-i___„_. Motorspirit,,etc,----___

-J^P .oil -and white spirit (kerosene)

."'.pistillate.fuels"'----._„ Lubricating

oils and

greases-

- 'Animal and vegetable oils and fats

- C&emicals---.—■-.._■___„._

Medicinal and pharmaceutical products Soaps?

cleansing

and

polishing preparations---__

I960 -yz C.C.C. 145 47 ±±L\. 91

792 37 27 32 119 263

249

219 197 129

669

438 -

25v

131 oct .11 ■296■

85

48

7*186

. 789

44 32 38

119 126

179

.-373 334 229 143 1,013

634

192" ■12 ■412" 130 ..

83

1962

.

1963 1964 1965 1966 5167 787

40 45 44 I64 30 136

137

366 316 232 110 ■652 128 242

. 65

9 432 74 78

858 33 40 49 129 47 153 190 400 364 235

89

7,700 720 20 .39 34 17 36 125 160 267 242 25O 99 628 152 294 ..68 10

445

123 106

9.00 •240

367

■-53 32 443

185 55

7,383 '693

21 49 32 32 48 88 159 246 213 215 86

1,112 1,190 1,578 i,.O96

497

255

266

497

248

ObO CD!EJ ro o to o o

'fable9

■(cont'-d)

SITC CodeCommodity.

l§60 . 1961 - ■.•1962 1964 :. 1965

!l966 629 629 642 652 656 661

673 69 :7-'\

11 72 73 732 8

841

851

89 .

Maxnxfaoturedgodds.classified bymaterial.-■>■:---:-.J-..---.1,2191,809l,8G31,779 Articlesof"rubber^n.e.s.-J--- -Rubber,tyresandtubes■-.,-I- Articles6f'"'paperpulp,paperj(:etc Cbttonfabricsjw'Oven-;;-.[--? 'Textile"fa.brics'j"-K.e-.s.-/.-:--:■-'' Made-up-article^s-i'-—■■■-: Limeandcernerit,-,.--f> Ironandsteelbars3r;rodsj

'-Manufactures ofmetajLj n-e Machinery and transpoiji/equi''pn£e.n't

■e'tc -?

i■- Machinery-;O-ther-thani^elect'ric- Electric-maehineryj transport.--equipment ■Roadmotor-vehicles

(apparatus,Tat'c" Misoellaneousmanufactured:.ari.icles"- Clothing(exceptfi .■Footwear—■;—.- 1Miscellaneous.manufactured-

-..articles, hie^s. ;■ "" *"■■

Commoditiesandtransabtionsy-:n.e--,s^«

83

■34 ■

491

153 124 233 122

179 1,187 283

245

659

582 725 204

' 195

,127

102

95

39

543 143 108 243 151 205 370 276 782

694

718 217 101 140

113 105 158 374 88 118 371 128 219 331 393

919

821 735 198. 117 144 178

154 138. 61 47"5l 90 102. 118 118 393

1,433 1,643 1,553

47.2 363- 718 648

796..; 238

: 170 188

2,404 128 114 92 749. ■103:" 150 2-10 -125 363 450 69:£ 556 933 3.Q3

155 199

168.

1,863...1,913 150 :136 :122 :598.. <79 .121 ■;148 ■97 :230

1,619

,505

356 758

,. 644 - 735

•223 128 "I84 161

123 106 99 603. 81 129

135

118 312 475 431 796 661 713

233" "!>6 189

:o O1Sources:UiiitedHa-tiohs5plear;book.ofInternational^radeStatistics^I963

&/ Excludes trade: within .UDEAC and;..;4i.se .excludes. Cameroon /.for11966. h/ ■ SpeOiar.imports,- ■cViif-. -; : --1 ■:" '''■■■ " '■' V'-- ." - ■.■■.'_; ' ., -' .

CD, no

0

E/CN.14/CA/EC0P/11 . .

Page 26 .

Congo (Democratic Republic) .

52. Table 12 shows import figures-fog?. Congo (Democratic Republic) between 1962 and ; 19653 the total.imports increased by 38O per cent. ■ The import of food a;nd live animals' rose from 2,422, to 8,201 million francs during

this period showing an increase of;300 per cent. ..Congo imports ."large

quantities of meat, fresh, chilled or frozen; fish, fresh and simply

preserved; and wheat, meal and flour. Imports of motor-spirit and

medicinal and pharmaceutical products were also substantial 'in 1965- The imports of manufactured goods rose from 2,895 to 11,901 ;miliion ,'francs over the ;f our-year period, 1962 to. 1965. Of the manufacture^ goods the

most important are articles of rubber? cotton fabrics? textile fabrics?

iron and !steel|manufactures of metalj and clothing. Machinery and

transport equipment constitutes about 33. per cent of the to tat 1, imports ■

in I965. -; " [ .z. ]

53. In Table 13 the data show the imports of Rwanda for the years 1963 to I965. In 1963, the imports include those of Mrundi. Between 1964 and 19.65 ;the imports almost doubled from 593 to 1,047 million francs (Rwandese). Manufactured goods formed nearly one-third of the i^otal imports in 1965, and of this textile yarn a,nd fabrics? iron and steel?

and clothing were most important. Road motor vehicles also constitute an

important item of imports. .. .

54. To sum up therefore, it will be noted that, in varying degrees?

food and ;live animals constitute an important import item for all

the countries of the Central African sub-region; of this fish; cereals^

butter and milk; fruits and vegetables are most important. There is also a growing market for manufactured goods, especially articles.of rubber,

mainly^ rubber tyres and tubes; textile fabrics; cotton fabrics;, lime and , cement;; iron and steel; clothing, and footwear. In the group of mineral fuels and lubricants, motor spirit and distillate fuels are most important while the imports, of chemicals are, made up largely of medicinal and pharmaceutical pro ducts * and dyeing« tanning and colouring materials<, Within the group of machinery and transport equipment, road motor vehicles is an important import

item for most of the countries. ,

III* Imports[[ of selected agricultural^cqmmodities^ ; "

55« As we shall see later on in Chapter V dealing with intra—African trade

the import of large quantities of food (and agricultural products) into the

sub-region is explained by the fact that under the colonial rule these coun tries exported agricultural and mineral raw materials, and imported food and manufactured goods. This pattern still prevails today.' The production of food was never encouraged and it isjonly in recent years that the countries have attempted a, 'deliberate policy to increase food production.

56\ Meat, fresh or frozen (or canned) - Cameroon, Gabon and Congo ;(Democratic Republic) import fresh meat- Canned meat is imported in Central African Re public, Chad, Congo (Republic), Gabon, Congo.(Democratic Republic) and Rwanda.

There is therefore a wide market for live animals*

e 27

57* Milk and dream - me main importers 'are Cameroon3 '"Central African' Republic, Chad, Congo (Republic) Gabon and Congo (Democratic Republic).

"58-.. Fish (fresh :or preserved) -,Cameroon,, Congo (Republic*) and Congo (Democratic Repblic) are important importers of fresh fish and other:

preserved or frozen fish. Other importing countries in the sub-region are Central African Republic and Chad. . ■ ] '.

59. Cereals-' ^ There are large quantities of imports of. cereals into the sub-region, in fact, all countries of the sub-region import cereaxs. ' The

main importing countries are Cameroon, Congo (Republic) and Congo

(Democratic Republic). y :

6°- Sugar and honey'- It would appear from the statistical data that most of the countries of the sub-region are self-sufficient inisugar

. production, 1 but the lack of adequate production and consumption datar -

■' precludes any further analysis, However, countries such as "Cameroon;,.

Chad, and Rwanda import sizable . '.quantities of refined sugar. - •■'

• &U Tobacco - Cameroon imports,both manufactured and unmanufactured:

; tobacco, while Congo (Republic) and.Congo.(Democratic Republic) import mainly; unmanufactured tobacco. The rest of the countries import manu factured tobacco suoh as cigars, pipe tobacco and cigarettes. '

\ IV. Imports of semi-manufactured and manufactured goods ■ ; 62* There are considerable imports of manufactured goods into.the sub-

region especially cotton and textile clothing and footwear. Other ,•

important imports are petroleum products, chemical products and machinery

and transport equipment. . . . ■ . ■

;63. Alcoholic beverages - All countries of the sub-region import some quantities of alcoholic beverages, especially beers. The largest '.

importers are Cameroon,,- Congo (Republic), Gabon and Congo (Democratic Republic). The' imports of this item: show an upward trend for most of

the countries. ' . . , . : - i -

' 64i Pe-fcro'le.uiD. products - The important Items unde-^this heading are

.motor spirit^ lamp.oil and white spirit (kerosene) distillate fuels and

lubricating oils..and greases.. There are large quantities of motor i'spirit imported'into the sub-region, and for.most countries this constitute■one

single important import item, ' .

1/ Includes, ri£e, wheat,;meal and flour, and other cereal

preparations- ■ ■/ ■ ■ :