Trade between EU and West Africa, 2000-2010

This publication focuses on ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States. EU-27 exports and imports to/from ECOWAS account for around 1.5% of total extra-EU-27 exports and imports. ECOWAS accounts for 18% of EU-27 exports to Africa and 16% of imports. Nigeria is by far the EU-27’s largest ECOWAS partner for imports, exports and service flows. In 2010 the EU-27 had a trade surplus with the ECOWAS countries in goods and, in 2009, in services. Imports and exports both rose strongly in 2010 recovering from the financial crisis. Mineral fuels (crude oil imports from Nigeria) made up two thirds of EU-27 imports from ECOWAS, whilst petroleum products accounted for nearly a third of EU-27 exports.