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Republic of the Congo
(information)
Population as of 2020: 5.52 million 114 of 193
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Region: Central Africa
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $15.7 billion 140 of 193
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Top Exports
Total exports: **~$8.3–9.5 billion (2024)**
**Extremely concentrated economy:** oil accounts for **~85–90% of exports**
| Rank | Export Category | Notes |
| ---- | ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Crude petroleum (oil)** ⭐ | ~85–90% of exports; overwhelmingly dominant |
| 2 | **Refined petroleum products** | Secondary oil exports |
| 3 | **Liquefied natural gas (LNG)** | Emerging export sector |
| 4 | **Timber (logs, raw wood)** | Second-largest traditional export |
| 5 | **Sawn wood & plywood** | Processed forestry exports |
| 6 | **Gold** | Small but valuable export |
| 7 | **Copper & copper products** | Growing mining export |
| 8 | **Diamonds** | Minor but notable (~4%) |
| 9 | **Iron & steel products** | Small industrial exports |
| 10 | **Cement & construction materials** | Regional exports |
Key individual export products (by value)
| Rank | Product | Notes |
| ---- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| 11 | **Crude oil** | #1 export by far (~$6–7B+) |
| 12 | **Refined petroleum oils** | Secondary oil exports |
| 13 | **Natural gas (LNG)** | New and growing export |
| 14 | **Logs (rough wood)** | Major forestry product |
| 15 | **Sawn timber** | Processed wood export |
| 16 | **Refined copper** | Industrial export (~$3B+) |
| 17 | **Gold (unwrought)** | Precious metal export |
| 18 | **Diamonds (rough)** | Small but valuable |
| 19 | **Plywood & veneer sheets** | Wood-processing industry |
| 20 | **Sugar, cocoa, coffee (minor agricultural exports)** | Very small share |
Key Takeaways
* 🛢️ **Oil dominates overwhelmingly**
* Accounts for **nearly 90% of export revenue**, making Congo one of the most **oil-dependent economies in the world**
* 🌲 **Forestry is the second pillar**
* Timber and wood products are the **main non-oil exports**
* ⛏️ **Mining is emerging**
* Copper and gold exports are growing but still far smaller than oil
* ⚠️ **Extreme concentration risk**
* Oil + gas dominate the economy, making it highly vulnerable to **energy price fluctuations**
* 🌍 **Classic hydrocarbon export economy**
* Similar structure to countries like:
* Angola
* Equatorial Guinea
* Gabon
Top Importers of the Republic of the Congo’s Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| 1 | **China** | By far the largest buyer (~60%+); crude oil dominates. |
| 2 | **India** | Major importer of crude oil. |
| 3 | **Italy** | Oil refining sector (Mediterranean hub). |
| 4 | **Spain** | Crude oil imports. |
| 5 | **Netherlands** | European oil trading hub. |
| 6 | **France** | Oil and historical trade links. |
| 7 | **United Arab Emirates** | Oil and commodity trading hub. |
| 8 | **South Korea** | Industrial demand for oil. |
| 9 | **United States** | Smaller share; oil and niche imports. |
| 10 | **Belgium** | Timber and mineral imports. |
Key Patterns
* 🛢️ **Oil determines trade partners**
* Countries like **China, India, and European refiners** dominate due to **crude oil demand**
* 🌏 **Asia is the primary market**
* **China and India** account for a large share of exports
* 🌍 **European refining hubs are important**
* **Italy, Spain, Netherlands** import crude oil for refining
* 🌲 **Timber shapes secondary partners**
* Countries like **Belgium and France** import wood products
* ⚠️ **Highly concentrated trade structure**
* A few countries account for the vast majority of export demand
