Sierra Leone's total trade in goods reached $1.2B in 2024, ranking it 178th globally.
Exports totaled $205.4M, with China ($37.5M) and Rep. of Korea ($28.7M) as the top destinations.
Imports amounted to $986.9M, with China ($198.0M) and the United Arab Emirates ($82.6M) being the largest sources.
The country's trade balance was a deficit of -$781.5M in 2024.
The top export category was Fish and crustaceans, valued at $42.0M, accounting for 20.5% of total exports.
The leading import category was Cereals, with an import value of $153.0M.
Sierra Leone's Trade Landscape in 2024
In 2024, Sierra Leone's international trade activity positioned it as the 178th largest trading entity in the world. The nation's total trade amounted to $1.2B, composed of $205.4M in exports and $986.9M in imports. This resulted in a trade deficit of -$781.5M. The leading export product for Sierra Leone was Fish and crustaceans, while Cereals were the most significant import.
Sierra Leone's primary export markets are concentrated in Asia and Europe. China was the top destination, receiving 18.3% of exports, valued at $37.5M. Other key partners included Rep. of Korea ($28.7M) and the Netherlands ($27.8M). On the import side, China was also the dominant partner, supplying 20.1% of all imports at a value of $198.0M. Following China were the United Arab Emirates and Belgium, with import shares of 8.4% and 7.5% respectively.
The country's export profile is led by raw and processed goods. The most valuable export is Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, which generated $42.0M in revenue. This was followed by Ores, slag and ash, with exports of $32.2M. For imports, Sierra Leone's largest category was Cereals at $153.0M. The second-largest import category was Machinery and mechanical appliances, with a total value of $111.8M.