Somalia's trade: exports and imports

The trade gap

All figures for 2025 from the Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025:

• Goods imports: $7,297 million, about 55 percent of GDP.
• Goods exports: $1,261 million, about 10 percent of GDP.
• Goods trade gap: $5,563 million, about 42 percent of GDP.
• Services gap (transport, insurance, professional services): $1,434 million.
• Current account gap: $3,160 million, about 24 percent of GDP, up from 20 percent in 2024.

The gap is paid for mainly by money from abroad. Net transfers into the country, mostly remittances and grants, were $3,608 million in 2025 (same source). Foreign direct investment added $880 million (same source).

What Somalia sells

Live animals are the biggest export: worth $922.9 million in 2025, about 73 percent of goods exports, sold mainly to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, with sales peaking before the Hajj (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). Crops, meat and fish grew in 2025 and offset most of the fall in animal sales (same source).

Sources disagree: the same Central Bank report gives livestock exports as $922.9 million (down 3 percent) in its agriculture chapter, and as $823 million (down 10 percent) in its national accounts chapter, which values exports differently.

What Somalia buys

Imports in 2025 included food (the largest item), fuel, building materials, machinery, clothing and shoes (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). Imports of machinery rose, which the Central Bank reads as firms building up their capacity (same source).

Because so much food is imported, world food and fuel prices pass straight into prices in Somali markets. See Prices and inflation.

Trade blocs and deals

• East African Community (EAC): Somalia became the eighth full member on 4 March 2024 (EAC).
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Somalia ratified the agreement in August 2026 (Dawan Africa).
• Afreximbank: Somalia joined in March 2025 (African Business).
• PAPSS: Somalia has joined the Pan-African payment system, and the Central Bank plans to link its instant payment system to it by the end of 2026, so trade payments with other African countries can settle in local currencies (Dawan Africa, July 2026; Eastleigh Voice).

The ports

Most trade passes through four seaports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo. A Turkish company, Albayrak, runs and has modernised Mogadishu port (Anadolu Agency). DP World of Dubai runs and expanded Berbera port under a $442 million joint venture agreed with Somaliland (Gulf News).

Why it matters

Each rainy season decides how many animals can be sold, and Gulf demand around the Hajj decides their price. The Central Bank says this leaves "foreign earnings exposed to each rainfall season" (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025).