Promote:
Export from Libya
A short guide for companies selling from Libya: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Libya sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$30 billion
Partners' imports from Libya were US$30.0 billion in 2025, as 84 buying countries reported them to Comtrade; the United Arab Emirates did not report.
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Services exportsEstimate
US$599.2 million
Services exports were US$599.2 million in 2025, an estimate in the trade-in-services data of the WTO, UNCTAD and ITC.
Source: UNCTADstat, trade in services, Libya, 2023 and 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Top goods exports
2025
- 1. Crude petroleum (HS 2709)US$27.6 billion
- 2. Refined petroleum products (HS 2710)US$774 million
- 3. Petroleum gases (HS 2711)US$470.2 million
- 4. Ammonia (HS 2814)US$290.8 million
- 5. Direct-reduced iron (HS 7203)US$199.4 million
- 6. Copper scrap (HS 7404)US$139.3 million
- 7. Aluminum scrap (HS 7602)US$82.6 million
- 8. Iron and steel scrap (HS 7204)US$74 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Acyclic hydrocarbons (HS 2901)US$57.1 million
- 10. Coal tar oils and products (HS 2707)US$48.2 million
- 11. Nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102)US$47.4 million
- 12. Unwrought lead (HS 7801)US$29 million
- 13. Dates, figs and tropical fruit (HS 0804)US$23.8 million
- 14. Sulfur (HS 2503)US$19.9 million
- 15. Methanol and other acyclic alcohols (HS 2905)US$19.7 million
- 16. Recovered paper (HS 4707)US$19.5 million
- 17. Live fish (HS 0301)US$17 million
- 18. Semi-finished iron and steel (HS 7207)US$13.5 million
- 19. Unwrought gold (HS 7108)US$13.3 million
- 20. Refined copper (HS 7403)US$12.3 million
- 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)
- Crude petroleum is 91.8 percent of the 2025 total, so the ranking and the destination shares follow oil sales. Source (opens in a new tab)
- 84 buying countries reported for 2025 and 93 for 2024, and the United Arab Emirates in neither year; crude petroleum is 91.8 percent of 2025. Read changes on 2024 as partly reflecting which countries reported. Source (opens in a new tab)
- The economy ministry lists scrap iron, copper and lead among banned exports, yet partners recorded imports of these scrap lines. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Where the goods go
2025, share of goods exports
- Italy22.6%
- Germany19.5%
- Spain8.8%
- United Kingdom8.4%
- France8.2%
- Greece6.7%
- United States4.7%
- Netherlands3.2%
- 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)
- The United Arab Emirates reported for 2023 but not for 2024 or 2025, so the total and the shares leave out its purchases. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Only 5 lines are at least 0.5 percent of the total and US$50,000: crude petroleum, refined products, petroleum gases, ammonia and direct-reduced iron. Source (opens in a new tab)
2. What to look into next
Our reading
Extractive lines (crude petroleum, refined petroleum products and petroleum gases) make up about 96% of Libya’s goods exports, so the totals mostly describe that trade. For another product, look at demand for your own line, market by market.
Sources: UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports and goods exports
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.
AGOA
AGOA designates sub-Saharan African countries, and Libya is not among the countries the notice reviews for 2027.
Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; the notice lists the countries under review for 2027.
Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, June 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026
United Kingdom Developing Countries Trading Scheme
Libya is in none of the scheme's three preference tiers, so its goods pay the normal duty in the United Kingdom.
Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; tier lists are reviewed and can change.
Source: United Kingdom government, Developing Countries Trading Scheme tiers, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 19, 2023
European Union Generalised Scheme of Preferences
Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 lists Libya as an eligible country with no preferential arrangement, so its goods get no preference under the new scheme.
Status as of the regulation of June 22, 2026, which applies from January 1, 2027; check Libya's treatment under the current scheme with the importer before you quote.
Source: European Union Official Journal, tariff preferences regulation, June 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026
Arab trade liberalization agreement (ratified 2003)
The economy ministry lists Libya's 2003 ratification, and the Tripoli chamber issues Arab certificates of origin for goods sold to Arab states.
Check each Arab state's tariff treatment of Libyan goods before you rely on a preference.
Source: Libya economy ministry, agreements page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from Libya
- Register the company in the commercial register, and ask the economy ministry whether its online import and export system applies to your goods.Ministry of Economy and TradeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Libya economy ministry, home page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Check whether the product is banned for export, or limited to the National Oil Corporation group, before you prepare a shipment.Ministry of Economy and TradeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Libya economy ministry, banned and restricted trade (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Ask the chamber of commerce to issue the certificate of origin: Arab, Tunisian or foreign.Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and AgricultureA fee of 0.0002 of the invoice value, per the Tripoli chamberOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Tripoli chamber, certificate of origin page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Check whether the product has a national standard, and ask the standards center about testing.Libyan National Center for Standardization and MetrologyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Libyan standards center, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more export steps
- For plant products, ask the national plant protection body about a phytosanitary certificate before shipment.National Center for Prevention and Agricultural QuarantineOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IPPC, Libya country page, contact registered November 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2025
- Present the export declaration to the customs authority.Libyan Customs AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Libya finance ministry, legislation page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- If the project is licensed under the investment law, claim the exemption of export goods from production tax, customs duties and export charges.Privatization and Investment BoardOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WIPO Lex, Libya investment promotion law, 2010 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 28, 2010
5. Organizations that help exporters
Start with Libyan Customs and BSC. 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
BSC
Bureau of Statistics
Publishes the annual external trade statistics bulletin, with exports by commodity chapter and by country.
Visit BSC (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya statistics bureau, external trade statistics bulletin, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Economy and trade ministry
Economy Ministry
Ministry of Economy and Trade
Publishes the lists of banned and restricted exports and the documents for registering foreign branches, representative offices and joint companies.
Visit Economy Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya economy ministry, banned and restricted trade (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Central bank
CBL
Central Bank of Libya
Publishes the official dinar exchange rate, price index, balance of payments and foreign trade reports.
Visit CBL (opens in a new tab)Source: Central Bank of Libya, home page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Libyan Customs
Libyan Customs Authority
Is the customs body the finance ministry lists among its affiliated bodies.
Visit Libyan Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya finance ministry, affiliated bodies page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
Tax Authority
Libyan Tax Authority
Is the tax body the finance ministry lists among its affiliated bodies.
Visit Tax Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya finance ministry, affiliated bodies page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Finance ministry
Finance Ministry
Ministry of Finance
Publishes the list of laws on customs, income tax and commercial activity.
Visit Finance Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya finance ministry, legislation page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
- Meet requirements
National standards body
LNCSM
Libyan National Center for Standardization and Metrology
Publishes the national standards guide and lists technical committees, laboratories and electronic services for standards.
Visit LNCSM (opens in a new tab)Source: Libyan standards center, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Plant protection authority
Agricultural Quarantine Center
National Center for Prevention and Agricultural Quarantine
Is the institution the plant protection convention lists as Libya's national contact point for plant protection and phytosanitary matters.
Show 1 more organization
State oil company
NOC
National Oil Corporation
Is the only body, with its affiliates and production-sharing companies, allowed to export crude oil and fuels, per the economy ministry.
Visit NOC (opens in a new tab)Source: Libya economy ministry, banned and restricted trade (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Tripoli Chamber
Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
Issues Arab, Tunisian and foreign certificates of origin and registers members, per its own pages.
Visit Tripoli Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Tripoli chamber, home page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Misrata Chamber
Misrata Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
Is the chamber for businesses in Misrata and lists the commercial activity law and the cabinet regulation on chambers.
Visit Misrata Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Misrata chamber, home page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. Worth knowing
Oil and gas exports
Exports of crude oil, fuels, gases and several chemicals are limited to the National Oil Corporation group, and crude oil was 91.8 percent of partners' 2025 imports from Libya.
What to do: Treat these goods as outside a small company's export routes, and confirm any role with the National Oil Corporation.
Sources: Libya economy ministry, banned and restricted trade (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, partners' imports from Libya by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Banned exports
The economy ministry bans exports of iron, lead and copper scrap, with narrow exceptions, and of cement, charcoal, large rebar, subsidized goods, live animals and imported medicines.
What to do: Check each product against the ministry's current list before you quote or ship.
Source: Libya economy ministry, banned and restricted trade (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Currency and settlement
The central bank cut the dinar's value by 13.3 percent in April 2025 and 14.7 percent in January 2026; consumer prices rose 16.6 percent in the year to September 2026.
What to do: Agree the currency and the payment date in each contract, and check the central bank rate before you price.
Sources: Central Bank of Libya, exchange rate policy page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab); Central Bank of Libya, price index, September 2026 (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
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 Libya project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Libya 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.