Export Diversification in Africa

Huria, Ankur; Brenton, Paul

Export Diversification in Africa

Autores

Huria, Ankur

Brenton, Paul

Editor

World Bank, Washington, DC

Descripción

Economic activity in many African countries remains highly concentrated and exports are often dominated by mineral resources or a few primary products. The World Bank’s 2011 report on light manufacturing in Africa identified poor trade logistics performance as a constraint that especially penalized African exporters that relied on imported inputs, very often making them uncompetitive. The report highlighted research that demonstrated how poor logistics added roughly a 10 percent production cost penalty in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia across the five subsectors of light manufacturing where opportunities were identified as greatest in Africa. The report outlined how in Africa poor trade logistics increase production costs (often wiping out the labor cost advantage) and lead to long and unreliable delivery times, making local firm’s unattractive suppliers to lead firms in global value chains (GVCs), particularly for light manufacturing. This note seeks to contribute to a review of progress in achieving export diversification through greater exports of light manufacturing products. It looks at recent trends in the exports of the five categories of light manufacturing identified as having strong potential in Africa. The note reviews progress in improving trade logistics in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on the three countries highlighted in the light manufacturing study: Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia, and additionally Kenya and Uganda.

Palabras clave

TARIFFS, REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, EXPORT MARKETS, PRODUCTION, EXPORT SECTORS, VALUATION, FREIGHT FORWARDING, GLOBAL MARKETS, AUTONOMY, AIRLINES, FOREIGN OWNERSHIP, IMPACT OF TRADE, EXPORTS, DOMESTIC MARKET, EXPORTERS, POLITICAL ECONOMY, SHIPPING AGENTS, INCENTIVES, LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES, COMPETITIVE POSITION, INPUTS, TRADE PERFORMANCE, QUALITY, TRADE EXPANSION, DELIVERY, CONFORMITY ASSESSMENTS, TRENDS, PREFERENTIAL ACCESS, FINAL GOODS, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES, FOREIGN MARKETS, DEVELOPMENT, INFLUENCE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CARGO, COSTS, PER CAPITA INCOME, FOOD EXPORTS, TRADE INTEGRATION, FOREIGN SUPPLIERS, REGIONAL TRADE, CUSTOMS, LOGISTICS, CONTAINERS, CABOTAGE, TRADE LOGISTICS, FREIGHT FORWARDERS, MARKETS, WTO, METAL PRODUCTS, AGREEMENT ON TRADE, AIR CARGO, ACCESS, IMPORTS, TRADE POLICY, LABOR, DIVIDENDS, PORTS, EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION, LINER SHIPPING, AVERAGE TRADE, CARGO DWELL TIME, EXPORT PATTERNS, MANUFACTURING, POLITICAL ECONOMY OF REFORM, BORDER TRADE, CUSTOMS BROKERS, LOGISTICS COSTS, TRADE INDICATORS, TRANSIT, TRADE PREFERENCES, TRANSIT CORRIDORS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, TRANSPARENCY, TRUCKS, TRADE COSTS, SHIPPING, DELIVERY TIMES, VALUE, CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES, BENCHMARKING, COMPETITIVENESS, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, TRADE REFORM, INEFFICIENCY, INTERMEDIATE GOODS, AGRICULTURE, CONSUMERS, TARIFF BARRIERS, TRADE FACILITATION, PORT INFRASTRUCTURE, COMPETITIVE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF STANDARDS, FORWARDING, TRADE DATA, TAXATION, REGIONAL INTEGRATION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, TRADE, MUTUAL RECOGNITION, AIR TRANSPORT, GDP, TRADE PARTNERS, CONTAINER SHIPS, GOODS, TARIFF PREFERENCES, SUPPLY CHAINS, GLOBAL TRADE, INVESTMENT, APPAREL INDUSTRY, PREFERENTIAL TRADE, TARIFF, SUPPLY, LOGISTICS CHAIN, SHIPS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, COMMODITIES, INTERMEDIATE INPUTS, TRANSPORT COSTS, APPAREL, PRICE CONTROLS, OUTCOMES, SHIPPING COMPANIES, SOURCING, COMMODITY, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, FREIGHT, TONNAGE, PRODUCTION COSTS, COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES, STORAGE