While total exports in 2008 fell by 12.06 percent as compared to 2007, from US$245.24 million to US$215.67 million, 12.06 percent lower than recorded for the preceding year, this development mainly reflected the large reduction in exports from the mineral sub-sector, which has accounted for about 80 percent of the country’s export earnings since 2000. Lower than expected earnings from the mining sub-sector may be partly attributed to some administrative problems with the mining companies, as well as to unfavorable domestic environment.

However, agricultural export volumes increased a total of 35 percent from 2007 to 2008.

• Cocoa bean exports grew from US$11.37 million in 2007 to US$14.98million in 2008, or from a volume of 13.72 to 17.89 thousand metric tons. This growth in export of cocoa was attributed partly to favorable world market prices for the commodity.
• Earnings from the export of “fish and shrimps” increased significantly from US$0.44 million in 2007 to US$2.05 million in 2008.
• The value of “re-exports” also increased significantly from US$2.72 million in 2007 to US$14.76 million in 2008.

 Value of Exports in Sierra Leone (000s USD)

For more information, contact us at exportdevelopment@sliepa.org.