Top 10 African Countries with Largest Exports 2023

African countries with the largest exports represent the top countries that made up more than 50% of the continents exports. The African continent is the second biggest continent on earth such has contributed to a large extent to the export of goods and commodities in the world. Only in 2018, the continent alone contributed about 2.4% to global exports, making it one of the top five exporters in the world.

African countries with the largest exports are the top countries in Africa that not only contributed to the economic development of the continent alone but are the biggest players in the economic growth and reshaping of the continent at large.

African export is one of the biggest in the world with a significant buck of its export centered on petroleum, gold, diamonds, natural gas, and coal and Agricultural commodities such as tea, coffee, and cotton. Also, UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa 2022 Report, shows that the continent is not dynamic enough in its merchandise exports.

The continent focuses only on Mining Products, Fuels, and Agricultural products which the continent vulnerable to global commodity price shocks.  Also, it undermines the continent’s inclusive growth and development prospects. So, to get into this article, we will be looking at the Top African countries with the largest exports with the top 10 contributing about 74.2% which is $349.4 of the total $471 African total export value in 2018.

1. South Africa

South Africa is one of the major contributors of exports on the African continent as well as the largest exporting country in Africa. The country has managed to remain the top country in Africa to export commodities out of the continent. It has also improved its contribution, remaining at the top of the table, when in 2018 the total worth of the commodity the country shipped out was about $80 billion and in 2019.

Meanwhile, in 2019 the country contributed about $90.4 billion of a total $471 billion export value of the whole continent commodity. However, the country experienced a drop in 2020 but still maintains the top spot with a total of about $82 billion dollars in value.

South Africa, export commodities majorly include, ores, slag, & ash, iron & steel, and copper, bituminous coal, manganese ores, and platinum. Meanwhile, slag, & ash take the highest proportion, followed by iron & steel. South Africa exports to China, the US, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Nigeria. These countries have the larger share of import of South African commodities with China having the largest.

2. Egypt

Egypt is the second largest contributor to African export commodities and goods. The country’s export value totaled $71.927 billion, coming up from the sixth place where it was in 2014 to the second largest contributor in Africa. Also, Egypt is the largest source of FDI in Europe, followed by UAE, UK, and USA with the Suez Canal revenues accounting for approximately $7 billion its revenue annually.

Egypt has had an impressive and steady growth increase over the years with more than 4% since 2014. Additionally, Egypt exports commodities to partners by destination including Turkey, Italy, India, USA, Saudi Arabia, Spain Malta, and others. Majorly, Oil and other mineral products account for more than 37% of Egypt’s goods exports, followed by chemical products, textiles, and agricultural products.

3. Algeria

Algeria the North African country has achieved a higher dollar value in global shipments bringing its total export goods value to Algeria. The country has been witnessing improvement over the years with a 71.65% increase from 2020 to 2021 after which it declined more than 48.49% in 2018 and 2019. Likewise, Algeria’s export value for 2022 saw an increase of 39.1% from 2021.

The country majorly exports Mineral fuels, Fertilizers, Inorganic Chemicals, Sugar, Salt, Sulphur, Edible fruits and nuts, Machinery, and Iron and steel. Furthermore, the major partners of Algeria’s exports include Italy (16%), France (12.6%), Spain (11.7%), the United States (9.9%), and Brazil (6%).

4. Morocco

The North African country has a total of ports which 10 can be considered the major ports for exporting goods and commodities in the country. Tanger Med Port in Morocco is the best port in Africa though not the largest, it ranks as the 4th best in the world. Morocco just like every other country on this list has also experienced an increase over the years.

In 2020, Morocco was behind ranking number 7 in Africa as one of the African countries with the largest exports. It gained momentum between 2020 and 2021 when it had a record 25.9% increase with a value of $47.05 billion dollars compared to 2019-2022 at $37.37 billion (14.98% decline).

Meanwhile, Morocco’s exports also increased in value to $58 billion-plus from 2021 to 2022 with a 24.24% increase. Morocco’s greatest export is electrical machinery and equipment, in addition to vehicles, fertilizers, not knitted apparel & clothing, inorganic chemicals, fish, and edible vegetables. With major partners like Spain, France, the US, Italy, India, Germany, the UK, and Brazil among others, Morocco stands as a major contributor to African exports.

5. Nigeria

The African Giant Nigeria ranks among the African countries with the largest exports with over $46 billion since the pandemic. Meanwhile, before the pandemic struck, Nigeria with the largest population in Africa ranks second behind South Africa among countries in Africa with the largest exports.

Nigeria experienced a decline of 48% from 2019 to 2020 after it had an experienced increase in the year prior with 3.2% and 32.06% increases in 2018 and 2017 respectively. However, it regained a considerable increase of 34.92% after 2021, reclaiming a top spot in the ranking of African countries with the largest exports in Africa.

Additionally, Nigeria deals majorly in the exports of crude oil and natural gas which takes the bulk in the export as well as Sesamum seeds, Urea, Liquefied propane, and Electrical energy. Nigeria exports to India, Spain, France, Netherlands, Indonesia, Namibia, South Africa, China, the United States, and Canada with India, France, and Spain having more than 37% of the total exports.

6. Angola – $29.843 billion

Angola’s position has increased after losing out from the third position as one of Africa’s largest exporters in 2020. The countries deals mainly in the export of products such as petroleum products, industrial diamonds, wood, marbles, coffee, green tea, black tea, and mate. Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2022, Angola grossed a revenue of over 10 billion U.S. dollars. Angola’s export grew by 9.91% after its dealings with China which boast about 57.5% of its export commodities, India 8.9%, the United States 3.8%, Spain 2.9%, with South Africa, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and France also having a considerable percentage.

7. DR Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the richest countries in terms of resources as the Central African country is endowed with exceptional Natural and Mineral resources. Congo which was not among the top African largest exporting countries is able to come 7th on this list.

Meanwhile, the country has been declining in exporting goods and commodities for years, with a total of 20.85% decline from 2018 to 2019. Furthermore, Congo suffered more decline even though it is rich in abundance of resources in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (65.54%, 125.74%, and 1142.16% respectively).

Congo’s main exports are copper-cobalt and gold, mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation, wood, and articles of wood among others.  Meanwhile, Congo’s most important export partners are China, Côte d`Ivoire, Togo, South Africa, Cameroon, Gabon, India, Singapore, Angola, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

8. Tunisia

Tunisia is among the African countries with the largest export on the continent. The North African country that is rich in natural resources which includes petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, and salt has also witnessed an increase in its export activities in recent years.

Tunisia witnessed a decline in 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 with (0.83% and 16.16%) respectively and bounced back in 2020 to 2021 with a 21.83% increase with a value of $19.67 billion in that year. Likewise, it has gone on to increase its stake in Africa and cement its place with a comfortable 14.34% increase as one of Africa’s largest exporters.

Tunisia trades mainly in the supply of electrical machinery & equipment, not knitted apparel & clothing, mineral fuels & oils, knitted apparel & clothing, and animal or vegetable fats & oils among others. It also partners with France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Algeria, and Libya.

9. Ghana

The Gold Coast country is among the largest exporters of goods and commodities in Africa. Ghana has rich mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, manganese, limestone, bauxite, iron ore as well as various clays and granite deposits. It is the second-largest producer of gold in Africa.

The country has been having a spiral of increase and decrease over the years. While it increased in the export of commodities and goods from 2018 to 2019 with a 13.67% increase worth about $25.59 billion, it declined from 2019 to 2020 by 43.29% making just about 14.51 billion in that year. Meanwhile, from 2020 to 2021 it gained momentum again with a 63.11% increase with a value of $23.67% and a decline of 15.31% between 2021 to 2022.

Ghana, majorly exports products such as crude petroleum oil, cocoa beans, gold, cashew nuts and manganese ores, diamonds, timber products, tuna, and aluminum among others. Also, its main export partners are the Netherlands, China, Switzerland, India, the United Arab Emirates, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

10. Cote d’Ivoire

Cote d’Ivoire has an export value of $17 billion which makes it ranks as one of the top African countries with the most significant exports. Additionally, Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa and cashew producer as well as being one of the largest economies of West Africa.

Cote d’Ivoire has managed to retain its position among the top exporters in Africa even after the effect of the pandemic. As the largest producer of cocoa, it exports cocoa, mineral fuels & oils, edible fruits & nuts, pearls & precious stones, rubber, cotton, essential oils, animal or vegetable fats & oils, and plastics among others.

The majority of the destinations of Cote d’Ivoire’s exported commodities include mainly, the Netherlands, United States, Vietnam, Switzerland, and Malaysia among other countries.

The table below contains the African countries with the largest exports

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