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Istanbul Africa Trade Company

Country Profiles

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) is located in the West Africa and it is bordered by Guinea, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana. Ivory Coast’s population is 24 million and its GDP is $40 Billion.

Ivory Coast gained independence from France in 1960. French is the official language, however there are 78 spoken local languages in Ivory Coast. Its capital city is Yamoussoukro. Its largest and commercial city is Abidjan and its population is around 4.5 million.

Ivory Coast’s main import partner is China with 20% of total imports. China is followed by France and Nigeria. The economy of Ivory Coast relies on agricultural and food products. Around 70% of all exports is related with the food sector. Ivory Coast is also one of the leading rubber producers. 

The first Turkish Embassy in Abidjan was opened in 2009, however the diplomatic relations were established in 1964 thanks to the embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Turkish exports to Ivory Coast increased significantly in the last 10 years from $47 Million to $142 Million. The exports are concentrated in the construction materials and food sector. Ivory Coast is an important country for food producers thanks to their production of cocoa beans, coconuts and cashews.

Below, you can see the fact sheet, macroeconomic outlook and trade relations of Ivory Coast with Turkey.

Four charts for Ivory Coast. Population rises from about 17 million in 2000 to 24 million in 2017. GDP grows from about US$10 billion to US$40 billion. Total exports stay above imports throughout, around US$10 to US$15 billion against US$7 to US$13 billion. Exports to Turkey rise from about US$110 million to US$290 million, consistently above imports from Turkey. Turkey's exports to Ivory Coast in 2008 and 2017: a pie chart splitting the ten largest product groups from all others, the total value of exports, and a table naming those ten products with each one's share. The same figures are listed as a table further down this page.
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Country at a glance

Capital city
Yamoussoukro
Official language
French
Population
24 million
GDP
$40 billion
GDP per capita
$1,662
Human Development Index
0.492
Top 3 import partners
China, France, Nigeria
Top 3 export partners
The Netherlands, USA, France
Top 3 import products
Crude Petroleum, Rice, Frozen-Fish
Top 3 export products
Cocoa Bean, Cocoa Paste, Rubber
Trade balance
+$1.96B in net exports

Source: Istanbul Africa Trade Company, Africa Economic Report (2019). Figures as published, reflecting data to 2017.

Turkey's exports to this market

Source: Istanbul Africa Trade Company, Africa Economic Report. Figures as published.

2008

$47 million

Top 10 products account for 63.7% of the total.

2008
ProductShare of total
Cereal Meal and Pellets13.6%
Hot-Rolled Iron Bars13.6%
Iron Blocks9.9%
Rubber Tires7.6%
Pure Olive Oil5.4%
Raw Iron Bars3.7%
Yeast3.1%
Petroleum Jelly2.3%
Baked Goods2.2%
Hot-Rolled Iron2.2%

2017

$142 million

Top 10 products account for 46.7% of the total.

2017
ProductShare of total
Cement13.1%
Hot-Rolled Iron Bars5.6%
Baked Goods4.8%
Iron Blocks4.2%
Pure Olive Oil3.7%
Prefabricated Buildings3.7%
Yeast3.3%
Toilet Paper3.1%
Iron Structures2.8%
Non-woven Textiles2.4%

Frequently asked questions

Ivory Coast: what does Turkey export there?
In 2017, Turkey's exports to this market were valued at $142 million. The ten largest product groups made up 46.7% of that total, led by Cement; Hot-Rolled Iron Bars; Baked Goods.
Ivory Coast: who are its main trading partners?
The three largest import partners are China, France, Nigeria. The three largest export partners are The Netherlands, USA, France.
Ivory Coast: what does the country import?
The three largest import products are Crude Petroleum; Rice; Frozen-Fish. The three largest export products are Cocoa Bean; Cocoa Paste; Rubber.
Ivory Coast: how big is the economy?
Population 24 million, GDP $40 billion, and $1,662 per person. The Human Development Index is 0.492.
Ivory Coast: does it run a trade surplus or a deficit?
The trade balance is +$1.96B in net exports.

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Reviewed by Burak Unal, Director of African Markets

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