Each year the IMF is publishing data on trade between countries in a report called “The Direction of Trade Statistics”. Just recently the IMF brought out the report for 2009, which is covering approximately 200 countries around the world.

The data of the study is based on information received from participating nations about exports and imports made between them and other countries.

Therefore, the accuracy and full picture of the data depends on what those countries provide to the IMF. Many countries do not deliver any data at all. For example, there are no figures available from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which have certainly important trade relations with Eritrea.

In certain cases the IMF combines data estimations with real figures, because some countries do only provide figures for a few month of the year. Thus, the information might not reveal the full picture.

Nevertheless, the report provides best possible insight about trade flows between countries including Eritrea. The following data is retrieved from the reporting countries, which have trade relations with Eritrea.

According to the 2009 IMF statistic, the biggest exporter to Eritrea in 2008 was Saudi Arabia with a bit more than $60 million followed by Italy with around $37 million, China $30 million and the US with $15 million.

This information was provided by the respective countries to the IMF for 2008. The top 10 exporting countries to Eritrea in 2008 retrieved from the Direction of Trade Statistics 2009 are;

Top Ten Exporting Countries:

The same information displayed as a share of total exports to Eritrea and by country gives the following picture (countries below a share of 0.56% have been accumulated under “others”).

Percentage share of total Exports to Eritrea by Country:

In respect to goods and services imported from Eritrea, the information from the participating countries reveals, that Italy is leading with $4 million followed by China with around $3 million and Sudan with $2.6 million.

Top Ten Importing Countries:

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