China, the dominant supplier
In 2025, China shipped 306.5 billion FCFA worth of goods to Chad, accounting for 30.7% of all imports—a lead no other trading partner can challenge. Cameroon, the second-largest supplier, delivered only 108.4 billion FCFA, roughly one-third of China’s volume. Libya ranked third with 85.8 billion FCFA (8.6%). These numbers highlight China’s grip on Chad’s import market, supplying everything from manufactured goods and industrial equipment to everyday consumer items. It is a classic North-South trade pattern: Chad absorbs Asia’s industrial output while exporting raw materials—a model Beijing has successfully replicated across Africa for two decades.
The UAE as an export hub
On the export side, the picture flips dramatically. The United Arab Emirates tops the list of Chad’s buyers, purchasing 333.3 billion FCFA worth of goods—26.2% of total exports. Malaysia follows closely with 297.8 billion FCFA (23.4%), and Germany takes third with 279.9 billion FCFA (22%). But the UAE’s role is less that of a final consumer and more of a redistribution platform. Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as global trade hubs, where Chadian crude oil transits, is sometimes refined or blended, and then rerouted to other markets. This intermediation is profitable for the Emirates and acceptable for Chad—yet it means N’Djamena often does not know the final destination of its own resources.
30.7% of imports come from China—a regional record.
26.2% of exports go to the United Arab Emirates.
79.8% of imports are concentrated among just ten countries.
France and the US, present but sidelined
Despite deep historical ties, France accounts for only 5.1% of Chad’s imports (50.9 billion FCFA), placing it sixth. The United States ranks fifth with 5.3% (53.0 billion FCFA). These figures reflect a gradual rebalancing of Chad’s trade partnerships toward Asia, the Middle East, and emerging economies—at the expense of traditional Western powers. India (4.3%), Togo (3.6%), Brazil (2.9%), and Turkey (2.3%) round out the import picture, showing a Chad that diversifies its supply sources while remaining heavily dependent on China for volume.
A geography of dependencies in need of reshaping
The strategic lesson is clear: Chad sells to a very narrow set of buyers—the top ten account for 98.9% of all exports—and buys from a slightly more diverse group still dominated by Beijing. This double concentration leaves the country vulnerable to external shocks. A policy of trade diversification—on both the export and import sides—would help mitigate those risks.
