The Ghana Statistical Service’s 2024 Trade Report highlights fuel, machinery, and agricultural goods as the primary categories of imports. Noteworthy entries include animal guts and used vehicles, with diesel leading the imports. Ghana maintains a positive trade surplus, driven by strong gold, petroleum, and cocoa exports, indicating a diverse and responsive trade landscape.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Trade Report for 2024, Ghana’s primary imports are mainly focused on fuel, machinery, and agricultural products. Notably, items such as animal guts, bladders, and stomachs have emerged as surprising inclusions among the top ten imported goods. Specifically, used vehicles within the 1,500cc to 3,000cc range were the fifth most imported product, totaling GH₵4.2 billion, which represents 1.7% of the total imports.
The list is topped by diesel (Automotive Gas Oil – AGO) for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), amounting to GH₵28.9 billion, or 11.6% of total imports, followed by light oils and motor spirit (super) at GH₵24.1 billion (9.6%). Other significant imports include bulldozers, cement clinker, and herbicides. Despite a substantial import expenditure, Ghana recorded a trade surplus of GH₵44.7 billion, with total exports reaching GH₵294.9 billion, thus surpassing imports which totaled GH₵250.2 billion.
The trade surplus benefits from robust export performances in gold, petroleum, and cocoa. The inclusion of animal intestines and used vehicles underscores Ghana’s evolving trade dynamics as it approaches 2025. The full list of Ghana’s top ten imports in 2024 is as follows:
1. Diesel – Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for TOR – GH₵28.93 billion (11.6%)
2. Light oils, motor spirit, super – GH₵24.12 billion (9.6%)
3. Self-propelled bulldozers – GH₵6.20 billion (2.5%)
4. Cement clinker – GH₵4.83 billion (1.9%)
5. Used vehicles (1,500cc–3,000cc) – GH₵4.20 billion (1.7%)
6. Cereal grains, worked but not rolled or flaked – GH₵3.37 billion (1.3%)
7. Crude petroleum oils – GH₵3.34 billion (1.3%)
8. Medium oils, Kerosene-type jet fuel (ATK) – GH₵3.16 billion (1.3%)
9. Guts, bladders, and stomachs of animals – GH₵2.69 billion (1.1%)
10. Herbicides, anti-sprouting products – GH₵2.61 billion (1.0%).
In conclusion, the GSS Trade Report for 2024 reveals that Ghana’s imports are dominated by essential fuel and machinery, along with surprising entries such as animal guts and used vehicles. The strong trade surplus driven by substantial exports in gold, petroleum, and cocoa emphasizes the dynamic nature of Ghana’s economy. The diverse list of imports illustrates an evolving market catering to various demands as the country progresses toward 2025.
Original Source: 3news.com
