China’s exports to São Tomé and Príncipe reached US$7.6 million in 2016, an increase of 76.7% compared to US$4.3 million in 2015, a source from the Sao Tome National Institute of Statistics (INE) told Macauhub on Monday.
The data provided by INE showed that China sold about 3,350 tonnes of miscellaneous products to São Tomé and Príncipe and that the amount paid for the imports accounted for about 5.6% of foreign purchases in 2016, which totalled US$134.6 million.
São Tomé and Príncipe imported products from China such as tea, coffee, plastics, textiles, clothing, footwear, glass and zinc sheets.
Economic operators in Sao Tome and Principe expect China’s exports to the Sao Tome market will increase significantly this year due to the US$146 million Chinese donation under the general cooperation agreement signed last April between the countries.
Sao Tome and Principe became part of Forum Macau at the end of March, after the two countries re-established diplomatic relations, following the archipelago’s current government recognising the People’s Republic of China rather than Taiwan.
Official customs figures from China released by Forum Macau Forum showed that trade with Sao Tome and Principe in 2016 amounted to US$6.64 million (-15.88%), with Chinese exports of US$6.63 million (-15.75%) and imports of US$17,700 (-46.82%). (macauhub)
