Portugal continues to be Cape Verde’s largest trading partner. In 2007, Portugal was the main destination of Cape Verdean exports - 58.3% of the total - but many of the products imported by Cape Verde (45%) come from Portugal as well. The list of countries importing the most Cape Verdean products also features the Netherlands (16.25%) and France (9.6%).

According to the PortugalCaboVerde Web portal, the total value of the archipelago’s imports in 2007 grew 26.6% in relation to 2006, with exports, however, down 15%. As such, during the period in analysis, Cape Verde’s balance of trade suffered a 28.1% increase in its deficit.

Cape Verde’s main exports are sea products (fish, crustaceans and mollusks, corresponding to 35.6% of the total), clothing and related items (34.7%), footwear and related items (24%) and alcoholic beverages (3.4%).

Europe absorbed 79% of all Cape Verdean exports - more than in 2006, when the figure stood at 75%. Following Europe comes Africa, with 8% of the total and Morocco as the main buyer, and the Americas, with 5%. Interestingly, El Salvador is the largest importer of Cape Verdean products in the Americas. Exports to Asia grew between 2006 and 2007 thanks to a significant increase in purchases in Japan.

In 2007, the main products imported by Cape Verde were aircrafts, with the acquisition of several new airplanes to serve domestic flight paths. Fuel, construction machinery and materials, food products and beverages, and transportation machinery and accessories represent more than half of the worth of all imports.

Source : A Semana