Gabon posts $6.9 billion trade surplus in 2025, confirms economic resilience

Gabon recorded a trade surplus of $6.90 billion in 2025, according to data from the African Trade Report 2026 published by Afreximbank. This result, achieved amid a global environment marked by shrinking trade, falling oil prices, and disruptions to sea routes, reflects the structural strength of the country’s external position.

The surplus stems from a net difference between exports, which held steady at $10.73 billion, and imports, stable at $3.83 billion. This exports-to-imports ratio of more than 2.8 to 1 places Gabon in a favorable position within the CEMAC zone, where several economies have seen their trade balances compress due to higher freight and input costs.

The global backdrop was not favorable. World merchandise trade grew only 4.6% in 2025 after a contraction in 2023, and forecasts for 2026 point to a sharp slowdown to 1.4%. In this context, maintaining such a significant surplus sends a positive signal to investors and Gabon’s institutional partners.

Gabon’s trade surplus also provides a basis for rebuilding foreign exchange reserves, which stand at $1 billion, equivalent to 2.1 months of import cover. This level, below the three-month threshold recommended by the IMF, remains the main area of concern for the authorities. Transforming a structural trade surplus into consolidated reserves is one of the most immediate macroeconomic management challenges for Libreville.