Promote:
Export from Guinea-Bissau
A short guide for companies selling from Guinea-Bissau: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Guinea-Bissau sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$290.3 million
Partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau were US$290.3 million in 2025, as 59 buying countries reported them to Comtrade; Viet Nam did not report, so the total may understate exports.
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Services exports
US$51 million
Services exports were US$51 million in 2024, from the trade-in-services data of the WTO, UNCTAD and ITC; the 2025 figure is flagged as estimated.
Source: UNCTADstat, trade in services, Guinea-Bissau, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Top goods exports
2025
- 1. Cashew nuts, coconuts and Brazil nuts (HS 0801)US$275.2 million
- 2. Molluscs (HS 0307)US$8.82 million
- 3. Oil seeds (HS 1207)US$1.69 million
- 4. Electronic waste and scrap (HS 8549)US$591,121
- 5. Aluminum scrap (HS 7602)US$538,399
- 6. Electronic circuits (HS 8542)US$122,114
- 7. Soap (HS 3401)US$115,609
- 8. Meat and fish meal (HS 2301)US$113,030
Show 12 more products
- 9. Dried fruit (HS 0813)US$73,594
- 10. Groundnuts (HS 1202)US$69,067
- 11. Pork (HS 0203)US$56,009
- 12. Machines with special functions (HS 8479)US$31,746
- 13. Coffee (HS 0901)US$28,343
- 14. Preserved nuts and fruit (HS 2008)US$22,223
- 15. Other nuts (HS 0802)US$20,725
- 16. Motor cars (HS 8703)US$20,112
- 17. Furniture (HS 9403)US$18,818
- 18. Hand tools (HS 8467)US$16,992
- 19. Plastic articles (HS 3926)US$15,294
- 20. Radio and television parts (HS 8529)US$13,538
- Reported by the buying countries as imports, valued by each importing country (CIF or FOB, as each reports it), not at export. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Cashew nuts, coconuts and Brazil nuts are 94.8 percent of 2025 imports reported from Guinea-Bissau, so shares follow cashew sales; India reported 94.3 percent. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Ships (chapter 89) and fish (HS 0302 to 0303) are left out of the ranking as the mirror method requires; they stay in the total and in every share. Source (opens in a new tab)
- No change on 2024 is shown: 66 buying countries reported for 2024 and 59 for 2025, a gap of more than a tenth, so the two years are not comparable. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Where the goods go
2025, share of goods exports
- India94.3%
- Japan3%
- Türkiye0.7%
- Cabo Verde0.4%
- Netherlands0.3%
- South Korea0.2%
- Brazil0.2%
- Liberia0.1%
- Reported by the buying countries as imports, valued by each importing country (CIF or FOB, as each reports it), not at export. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Viet Nam, which the 2017 WTO review names with India as a cashew buyer, reported nothing for 2023 to 2025, so the total and every share leave out its purchases. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Only 3 product lines are meaningful, with at least 0.5 percent of the total and US$50,000; the other 27 listed lines are each below 0.3 percent and below US$600,000. Source (opens in a new tab)
2. What to look into next
Our reading
The research marks cashew nuts, coconuts and Brazil nuts, molluscs and oil seeds as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Guinea-Bissau’s top destinations overall.
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports
India takes 94.3% of Guinea-Bissau’s goods exports. If you sell there, its import rules and buyer channels come first; either way, compare at least one other market before you commit.
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Where the goods go
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade liberalisation scheme and common external tariff
Approved products from approved enterprises can enter other member states without the import duty, and customs applies the common external tariff to imports.
Enterprise and product approval comes first; as of 2017 the WTO counted one company and ten products from Guinea-Bissau.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of WAEMU, Guinea-Bissau annex, 2017 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 14, 2017
West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) customs code and rules of origin
The union's customs code and origin protocol set the formalities for goods that move between member states.
Check the origin protocol and the product approval before you claim duty-free entry.
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, customs legislation page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
AGOA
Eligible products can enter the United States duty-free under the program's rules, for the countries the President designates each year.
Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; Public Law 119-103 extends the program to December 31, 2028.
Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, June 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026
European Union Everything But Arms
The scheme lets most goods from least developed countries enter the European Union without duty or quota.
Rules-based preference; the current regulation is repealed from January 1, 2027, and its replacement also lists Guinea-Bissau under Everything But Arms.
Source: European Union Official Journal, tariff preferences regulation, June 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026
Show 1 more agreement
United Kingdom Developing Countries Trading Scheme
The comprehensive tier gives the widest tariff cuts for goods that meet the scheme's origin rules.
Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; tier lists may change on review.
Source: United Kingdom government, Developing Countries Trading Scheme tiers, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 19, 2023
4. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from Guinea-Bissau
- Register the business and obtain a business certificate at the Business Formalization Center.Centro de Formalização de EmpresasOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, first steps to import or export (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Request a tax number from the tax directorate of the finance ministry.Direcção Geral das Contribuições e ImpostosOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, first steps to import or export (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Appoint a licensed customs broker, who files the export declaration in the SYDONIA World system.Alfândegas da Guiné-BissauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, first steps to import or export (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- For cashew, hold the annual export license from the commerce ministry.Ministério do Comércio e IndústriaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 5 more export steps
- Obtain a plant health certificate from the agriculture ministry for agricultural goods.Ministério da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento RuralOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Collect the customs and tax clearance certificates and, for cashew, the rural property contribution guide and receipt.Direcção Geral das Contribuições e ImpostosOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- For a preference claim, hold an ECOWAS-approved product and obtain the certificate of origin from the designated authority.Ministério do Comércio e Indústria250,000 CFA francs for a cashew certificate of origin, per the 2026 State budgetOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme, certificate of origin guide (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- File the declaration, pay the assessed taxes at the Treasury and present the receipts at clearance.Alfândegas da Guiné-BissauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export payment page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Move the cleared goods to the Port of Bissau for weighing and shipment.Alfândegas da Guiné-BissauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, loading and shipment page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Organizations that help exporters
Start with DGA and INE. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Export development and market information
- Research markets
National statistics office
INE
Instituto Nacional de Estatística da Guiné-Bissau
Publishes national price indexes and older foreign trade yearbooks, and runs the national statistical system.
Visit INE (opens in a new tab)Source: INE Guinea-Bissau, published documents list (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Trade and industry ministry
Ministério do Comércio
Ministério do Comércio e Indústria
Issues the annual cashew export license and the certificate of origin, per customs and the WTO review.
Visit Ministério do Comércio (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Research markets
Regional economic community
ECOWAS
Economic Community of West African States
Regional body
Runs the trade liberalization scheme and the common external tariff that customs applies.
Visit ECOWAS (opens in a new tab)Source: ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme, certificate of origin guide (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Find finance
Multilateral development bank
World Bank
Multilateral body
Publishes economic updates on Guinea-Bissau that cover growth, prices, cashew exports and the outlook.
Visit World Bank (opens in a new tab)Source: World Bank, Guinea-Bissau country overview (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs administration
DGA
Direção-Geral das Alfândegas
Runs export clearance in the SYDONIA World system and collects the export taxes customs is responsible for.
Visit DGA (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGCI
Direcção Geral das Contribuições e Impostos
Issues the tax number and the cashew rural property contribution guide, and publishes tax law and forms.
Visit DGCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau tax directorate, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more organizations
Finance ministry
MF
Ministério das Finanças
Oversees customs, the tax directorate and public finance, and hosts their portals.
Visit MF (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau finance ministry, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional central bank
BCEAO
Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
Regional body
Issues the CFA franc, sets regional foreign exchange rules and publishes monthly economic notes.
Visit BCEAO (opens in a new tab)Source: BCEAO, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
Regional economic union
UEMOA
Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine
Regional body
Sets the customs code and common rules that apply to Guinea-Bissau as a member.
Visit UEMOA (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, customs legislation page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
National cashew agency
ANCA
Agência Nacional do Caju
Issues the warehouse inspection certificate that customs advises cashew exporters to hold, as an agency of the agriculture ministry.
Visit ANCA (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Agriculture ministry
Ministério da Agricultura
Ministério da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento Rural
Issues the plant health certificate that customs lists for cashew exports.
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
National standards directorate
DSNPQ
Direcção de Serviços de Normalização e Promoção da Qualidade
Serves as the national technical-barriers enquiry point, as of the WTO review.
Visit DSNPQ (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of WAEMU, Guinea-Bissau annex, 2017 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 14, 2017
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIAS
Câmara de Comércio, Indústria, Agricultura e Serviços
Joins the yearly meetings that set the cashew cost structure, per the customs information sheet.
Visit CCIAS (opens in a new tab)Source: Guinea-Bissau customs, cashew export information sheet (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. Worth knowing
Controlled cashew exports
Customs lists an annual export license, a plant health certificate, tax and customs clearance certificates and a rural property contribution receipt for each cashew export.
What to do: Confirm the current campaign decree, license fee and issuing office with the commerce ministry before you prepare a shipment.
Sources: Guinea-Bissau customs, export documents page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab); Finance ministry, 2026 State budget (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Cashew concentration
Cashew nuts were 94.8 percent of partners' 2025 imports from Guinea-Bissau, and India alone reported 94.3 percent of the total.
What to do: Check demand and prices in more than one market before you commit volume.
Sources: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Guinea-Bissau by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Informal cashew trade
As of 2017 the WTO review says large cashew volumes leave informally for neighboring countries, so official totals can understate trade.
What to do: Ask customs how cross-border shipments are recorded before you rely on any export total.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of WAEMU, Guinea-Bissau annex, 2017 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 14, 2017
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Guinea-Bissau project.
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Promote:Guinea-Bissau is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.