South Africa leads Ghana's export destinations in Africa - GSS

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has named South Africa as Ghana’s leading export destination within Africa for the fourth quarter of 2025.

This was contained in its latest International Trade Statistical Newsletter released early 2026.

The report indicates that Ghana exported goods valued at GH₵12.1 billion to South Africa during the period, representing 63.8 percent of total exports to the continent.

It further highlights that Ghana’s exports to Africa remain heavily concentrated among a few key regional partners.

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The top five destinations; South Africa, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo accounted for more than 91 percent of Ghana’s total exports to Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Exports to Burkina Faso were valued at GH¢2.5 billion, representing 13.2 percent of the total, while exports to Nigeria stood at GH¢1.0 billion, accounting for 5.4 percent.

Shipments to Côte d’Ivoire and Togo were recorded at GH¢0.9 billion and GH¢0.8 billion respectively.

In terms of commodities, gold dominated Ghana’s exports to South Africa, accounting for 94.4 percent of shipments to that market.

Meanwhile, exports to Burkina Faso were driven largely by plastic products as well as iron and steel, which together made up nearly three-quarters of exports to the neighbouring country.

The report also showed that exports to Nigeria were mainly mineral fuels and oil products, contributing more than 70 percent of shipments to that market, while exports to Togo were largely iron and steel alongside chemical products, accounting for more than half of total exports.

Overall, Ghana’s exports to Africa were dominated by gold bullion and crude petroleum, alongside manufactured products such as plastics and iron and steel, reflecting both the country’s reliance on mineral commodities and its growing trade in manufactured goods within the region.

The Ghana Statistical Service noted that the strong concentration of exports among a few countries reflects the structure of Ghana’s intra-African trade, as the country continues to expand regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

SO/SA

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