Memo: EU-Africa trade in facts and figures

The EU is the largest trading partner and largest export market for every almost every country in Africa.

The European Union has an overall trade deficit with Africa. In 2006 the EU imported €126 billion in goods from Africa. It exported €93 billion worth of goods to Africa. The EU has a trade deficit with Africa in agricultural goods, textiles and energy products. It has a surplus in trade in machinery, chemicals and transport equipment.

Africa accounts for almost 9% of EU imports. Half of these imports are energy products. 23% are manufactured goods and 11% are food and agricultural products.

Africa absorbs 8.3% of EU exports. Machinery, chemicals and manufactured goods make up more than 78% of EU exports to Africa.