The Dissemination Day of Niger's external accounts for 2019 was held on March 11 in Niamey. On the occasion, the authorities revealed that imports are up 7.5% while exports are down 1.3%.

Chaired by the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Laouali Abdou Rafa, the dissemination of Niger's balance of payments for the year 2019 is an initiative of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) which aims to broaden the field of information sharing and increase the perception of their importance in the analysis, decision-making and formulation of economic policies in the WAEMU space.

According to the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Laouali Abdou Rafa, the external accounts provide a brief summary of the national economy, highlighting the most dynamic export sectors during the period under consideration, but also the least performing.

The overall balance of Niger's balance of payments showed a surplus of CFAF 317.9 billion, after four years of successive deficits. The current account structurally in deficit deteriorated by 2.1%, following the deterioration of the balance of goods and services, mitigated by the surplus of secondary income.

As for exports, they fell from 668.2 billion in 2018 to 659.7 billion, a decrease of 1.3%, mainly due to the contraction in sales of agro-pastoral products caused by the closure of Nigeria's borders, despite the increase in uranium shipments.

Imports increased by 7.5%, driven mainly by purchases of capital and intermediate goods as well as food and everyday consumer products. However, secondary income stood at 368.4 billion in 2019 against 270.1 billion a year earlier, in line with the increase in public and private transfers, in particular budgetary aid and remittances from migrant workers. .