Promote:
Export from Mauritania
A short guide for companies selling from Mauritania: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Mauritania sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$4.5 billion
Merchandise exports were US$4.5 billion in 2025, as Mauritania reported them to UN Comtrade.
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Services exportsEstimate
US$290 million
Services exports were US$290.0 million in 2025, a figure the WTO, UNCTAD and ITC data mark as estimated.
Source: UNCTADstat, Mauritania services exports by category (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Top goods exports
2025
- 1. Gold (HS 7108)US$1.64 billion
- 2. Iron ore (HS 2601)US$1.18 billion
- 3. Mollusks (HS 0307)US$530.2 million
- 4. Frozen fish (HS 0303)US$442.1 million
- 5. Copper ore (HS 2603)US$219.7 million
- 6. Petroleum gases (HS 2711)US$218.1 million
- 7. Fish and meat meal (HS 2301)US$59.1 million
- 8. Fish oils and fats (HS 1504)US$22 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Natural sand (HS 2505)US$17.2 million
- 10. Iron and steel structures (HS 7308)US$17.1 million
- 11. Crustaceans (HS 0306)US$17 million
- 12. Refined petroleum oils (HS 2710)US$15.7 million
- 13. Crude petroleum (HS 2709)US$15.5 million
- 14. Raw cotton (HS 5201)US$13.1 million
- 15. Melons and papayas (HS 0807)US$12 million
- 16. Prepared fish (HS 1604)US$10.9 million
- 17. Seamless steel tubes and pipes (HS 7304)US$9.86 million
- 18. Fresh fish (HS 0302)US$7.96 million
- 19. Fish fillets (HS 0304)US$4.6 million
- 20. Organic fertilizers (HS 3101)US$3.84 million
- Gold and iron ore were 62.8 percent of 2025 exports, and mollusks and frozen fish were a further 21.6 percent. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Flow X includes re-exports; the reporter returned no re-export rows for 2025, so their share is not known. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Where the goods go
2025, share of goods exports
- China21.6%
- Canada18.1%
- Switzerland14.9%
- Spain9.5%
- Algeria5.6%
- Turkey4.3%
- Italy2.7%
- United Arab Emirates2.4%
- Shares use the World total of the same query; the excluded groupings were under 0.01 percent of exports. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
2. What to look into next
Our reading
Extractive lines (gold, iron ore and copper ore) make up about 74% of Mauritania’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, Mauritania exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports and goods exports
The research marks mollusks, frozen fish and fish and meat meal as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Mauritania’s top destinations overall.
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports
Raw cotton grew 32% from 2024 to 2025; melons and papayas grew 21% from 2024 to 2025. A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before
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.
Mauritania–ECOWAS Association Agreement
Aims at a free trade area with West African states, with Mauritania moving to the common external tariff of the community.
Entry into force needs all members to exchange ratifications; whether provisional application began was not confirmed.
Source: Mauritania–ECOWAS Association Agreement, May 5, 2017 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of May 5, 2017
Everything But Arms (EBA)
Gives duty-free, quota-free entry to the European Union for goods other than arms, because Mauritania is on the beneficiary list.
Rules-based preference with origin rules. As of October 31, 2026, per the Access2Markets list; the new GSP Regulation applies from January 1, 2027.
Source: European Commission, Everything but Arms beneficiaries (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)
Gives goods the lowest tariffs the United Kingdom offers under its Comprehensive Preferences tier, where Mauritania is listed.
Rules-based preference; the exporter must meet the origin and claim rules. As of October 31, 2026, per the tiers guidance.
Source: United Kingdom, Developing Countries Trading Scheme tiers (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
AGOA
Lets listed goods enter the United States duty-free, because the President designated Mauritania a 2026 beneficiary.
Eligibility is reviewed each year and only eligible articles qualify; confirm the designation before you ship. As of the June 30, 2026 Federal Register notice.
Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility notice, June 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026
4. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from Mauritania
- Register your business at the APIM one-stop shop, which handles the commercial registry, tax and social security.Agence de Promotion des Investissements en Mauritanie48 working hours once the file is completeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: APIM, business setup and one-stop shop page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Check whether your goods are prohibited or restricted, and ask the competent body for prior approval if they are restricted.Direction Générale des DouanesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Customs, prohibited and restricted goods page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- For fish and seafood, use a processing plant with a technical approval and ask ONISPA about product certification.Office National d'Inspection Sanitaire des Produits de la Pêche et de l'AquacultureOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ONISPA, inspection and approval procedures (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Have a customs declarant enter the export declaration in SYDONIA World and file it at the customs office.Direction Générale des DouanesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Customs, import and export clearance guide (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more export step
- If you hold an Investment Certificate, claim the value added tax refund on inputs for exported goods and repatriate the export revenue.Agence de Promotion des Investissements en MauritanieOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Code, Law 2025-006, and Decree 2025-117 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 19, 2025
5. Organizations that help exporters
Start with Commerce Ministry and DGD. 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
- Get advice
Trade ministry
Commerce Ministry
Ministère du Commerce et du Tourisme
Sets trade policy and runs the directorate that promotes exports and follows trade agreements.
- Research markets
National statistics agency
ANSADE
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse Démographique et Economique
Publishes quarterly and yearly foreign trade statistics and the consumer price index.
Visit ANSADE (opens in a new tab)Source: ANSADE, foreign trade note, second quarter 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGD
Direction Générale des Douanes
Publishes the clearance guide, the Customs Code and the SYDONIA user guides for exporters.
Visit DGD (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs, import and export clearance guide page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts
Lets users check tax identification numbers online and posts the General Tax Code.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: Tax directorate, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Finance ministry
Finance Ministry
Ministère des Finances
Posts the annual finance laws and other legal texts on its website.
Visit Finance Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Finance, laws page (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
- Meet requirements
Fishery health inspection body
ONISPA
Office National d'Inspection Sanitaire des Produits de la Pêche et de l'Aquaculture
Inspects fishery processing plants and products and posts the health rules for fishery products.
Visit ONISPA (opens in a new tab)Source: ONISPA, missions page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BCM
Banque Centrale de Mauritanie
Issues the banking compliance certificate that an extension file under the Investment Code must include.
Visit BCM (opens in a new tab)Source: Investment Code, Law 2025-006, and Decree 2025-117 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 19, 2025
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
National standards body
ONANOR
Office National de la Normalisation et de la Métrologie
Runs standardization, metrology, certification and accreditation, and posts draft Mauritanian standards for public comment.
Visit ONANOR (opens in a new tab)Source: ONANOR, standards and metrology office (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Fisheries ministry
Fisheries Ministry
Ministère des Pêches et de l'Économie Maritime
Receives requests for technical approval of fishery processing plants and passes them to ONISPA for an opinion.
Visit Fisheries Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: ONISPA, inspection and approval procedures (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CCIAM
Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie et d'Agriculture de Mauritanie
Represents trade, industry and agriculture firms, shares business information and offers advice and training.
Visit CCIAM (opens in a new tab)Source: CCIAM, chamber presentation page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
National employers union
UNPM
Union Nationale du Patronat Mauritanien
Groups professional federations for trade, fishing, mining, agriculture, transport and women business owners.
Visit UNPM (opens in a new tab)Source: UNPM, employers union home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. Worth knowing
Export concentration
Gold, iron ore, mollusks and frozen fish were 84.4 percent of 2025 merchandise exports in UN Comtrade.
What to do: Compare your product with the other lines in the list before you quote shares.
Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritania exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs Code replaced
Law 2026-015 of May 24, 2026 replaced the 2017 Customs Code, and the customs clearance guide is undated.
What to do: Ask customs which article applies before you rely on the guide.
Sources: Official Journal 1606 bis, May 30, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Customs, import and export clearance guide (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Fish health rules
Joint orders of July 2025 set official controls, hygiene rules and testing criteria for fishery products.
What to do: Ask ONISPA which of the 2025 orders apply to your product before you schedule shipments.
Source: ONISPA, regulatory texts, fishery products (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Rising inflation
Consumer prices rose 9.3 percent over the twelve months to September 2026, up from 4.1 percent in December 2025, ANSADE reports.
What to do: Check price adjustment terms before you fix ouguiya prices in a contract.
Source: ANSADE, consumer price index note, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 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 Mauritania project.
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Promote:Mauritania 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.