Senegal's Exports Decline by 20% in September 2026

Senegal's export sector experienced a significant decline in September 2026, with a 20.4% drop to 566 billion FCFA compared to 711.1 billion FCFA in August. The Agence nationale de la statistique et de la démographie (ANSD) reported this decline in its monthly bulletin on foreign trade. The decrease was largely attributed to a decline in crude oil exports, which fell from 206.7 billion FCFA in August to 123.3 billion FCFA in September.

The decline in Senegal's exports was also driven by a decrease in liquefied natural gas sales, which dropped from 28.4 billion FCFA to 17.3 billion FCFA over the same period. Phosphate exports experienced an even sharper decline, plummeting to 200 million FCFA from 6.7 billion FCFA in August. However, gold exports showed resilience, increasing to 127.5 billion FCFA in September from 109.8 billion FCFA in August.

Despite the decline in September, Senegal's exports have shown an overall increase compared to the same period in 2025. The country's exports rose by 34.5% compared to September 2025, with a total of 5,103.5 billion FCFA at the end of September 2026, up from 4,097.6 billion FCFA in 2025. This represents a 24.6% increase in exports over the past year.

Senegal's imports also experienced growth, with a total of 595.6 billion FCFA in September, up from 551.1 billion FCFA in August. This represents an 8.1% increase. The rise in imports was largely driven by increased purchases of crude oil, which reached 53 billion FCFA, up from almost zero in August.

Compared to September 2025, Senegal's imports have increased by 18.5%. However, the cumulative total of imports at the end of September 2026 was 5,047.4 billion FCFA, down from 5,224.5 billion FCFA in 2025. This represents a 3.4% decrease in imports over the past year.

The decline in exports and increase in imports resulted in a trade deficit of 29.5 billion FCFA in September 2026, compared to a surplus of 160 billion FCFA in August. However, the cumulative trade balance remains in surplus, with a total of 56 billion FCFA at the end of September 2026, compared to a deficit of 1,127 billion FCFA in 2025.

According to Rémi SOUSSO, the decline in Senegal's exports highlights the need for the country to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on a few key commodities. The ANSD's report suggests that the country's trade performance will continue to be influenced by fluctuations in global commodity prices.

Key points

• Senegal's exports declined by 20.4% in September 2026, driven by a drop in crude oil and phosphate exports.
• Despite the decline, Senegal's exports have increased by 24.6% compared to the same period in 2025.
• The country's trade balance remains in surplus, with a cumulative total of 56 billion FCFA at the end of September 2026.