Nigeria and South Africa Lead France’s Trade Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024

According to data published on Monday, September 22, by the French Treasury Directorate (attached to the Ministry of Economy), France’s main trading partners in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 are English-speaking nations located outside its traditional sphere of influence.

The Top 6 Partners

For the third consecutive year, Nigeria retained the top spot. The continent’s most populous country recorded trade worth €4.9 billion with France in 2024.

South Africa ranked second with a trade volume of €3.1 billion, followed by Côte d’Ivoire (€2.6 billion), the only French-speaking country in the top three.

The ranking of the top six partners is as follows:

  1. Nigeria – €4.9 billion
  2. South Africa – €3.1 billion
  3. Ivory Coast – €2.6 billion
  4. Angola – €2.1 billion
  5. Senegal – €1.2 billion
  6. Cameroon – €1 billion

Trade Dynamics and Overall Balance

Although total trade between France and Sub-Saharan Africa slightly declined from €24.3 billion in 2023 to €24.1 billion in 2024 (a decrease of 0.4%), certain trade relations recorded strong growth.

The most notable year-on-year increases were seen with Ethiopia (€800 million in 2024, compared to €420 million in 2023), Côte d’Ivoire (€2.6 billion vs. €2.4 billion), Chad (€720 million vs. €530 million), and Senegal (€1.2 billion vs. €1.1 billion).

Improvement in the Trade Deficit

France managed to reduce its trade deficit with the region, which narrowed from −€2.6 billion in 2023 to −€2.2 billion in 2024. This improvement resulted from a 1.7% increase in French exports to Sub-Saharan Africa (€11 billion in 2024) combined with a −1.1% decrease in imports (down to €13.2 billion).

The structural trade deficit that France has experienced in goods since 2022 is mainly due to imports of basic commodities, particularly hydrocarbons, minerals, and raw agricultural products.

Strategic Reorientation

This focus on Nigeria and South Africa reflects a strategic reorientation by Paris. Following recent coups in several former colonies in the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), which led to the withdrawal of French forces, France has intensified its economic cooperation with countries located further from its traditional sphere of influence, such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.