The availability of goods and services in the local market has been growing over the last 5 years since the economy has grown regardless of the oil prices windfall and some retail, services and import/export companies have been created. As the economy is focused around the oil industry the Republic of the Congo imports most of the products and do not have major manufacturing and production capacities. Oil and oil derivates, are transformed in the only refinery of the Country.

The top exports of the Republic of the Congo are Crude Petroleum, Refined Copper, Rough Wood, Refined Petroleum and Sawn Wood.

Its top imports are Food stuff, Special Purpose Ships, Iron Structures, Insulated Wire, Packaged Medicaments, and Palm Oil.

Even though the Congo is rich on fertile soils for there is no agribusiness Industry in the Country and the local production of food is mainly generated by small farmers and local fishermen associations and does not meet the internal demand.

The types of food consumed are Manioc (>80 %), rice, wheat, poultry, fish, hunting meat, bananas, ground nuts, palm oil, vegetables, beans.

The dominating staple food is cassava roots which is produced mainly for the family subsistence or for the local consumption. There are no large importing companies for food but there are many small trading companies that import food stuffs for local sales.  That makes the level of local competition fare but items are just procured through traders.

For humanitarian organisations distributing food there are few options for large scale local purchases through traders and prices are generally higher than buying on the international market.

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following sources:

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC) http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/cog/

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Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.