Distributing a product

Market shares

The informal sector dominates large scale distribution in Côte d'Ivoire. The big supermarket names are Cash, Hayat and Leader Price, who occupy a niche position, since these groups offer, almost exclusively, imported products with exorbitant prices, which puts them out of reach of the majority of Ivorian households.

Organizations in the retail sector

National Federation of Shopkeepers in Côte d'Ivoire

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

International economic cooperation

Côte d'Ivoire is a member of the Economic Commmunity of West African States (ECOWAS), and of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

Non tariff barriers

Imports and exports are free.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

There are very different levels of import taxes according to the products; for further information, consult the Ivorian Customs.

Customs classification

Côte d'Ivoire belongs to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA which brings together the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo). Since 1 January 2000, and whatever their entry point into the UEMOA, third countries to the UEMOA pay duties and taxes defined according to the Common External Tariff (CET) of the UEMOA.

Applicable Customs rates are according to the category the imported product belongs to: essential assets on a closed list: category I, 0% - essentials, basic raw materials, capital goods, specific inputs: category II, 5% - intermediate inputs and goods: category III, 10% - goods for final consumption and other products not mentioned elsewhere: category IV, 20%. The Customs duty base is the CIF value. The documents to be provided are a commercial invoice, a certificate of origin for third countries and an EUR1 certificate. To determine the category of your product, you can consult the Customs classification in force in Côte d'Ivoire (in conformity with the Harmonized System).

Import procedures

Côte d'Ivoire belongs to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA which brings together the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo). Since 1 January 2000, and whatever their entry point into the UEMOA, third countries to the UEMOA pay duties and taxes defined according to the Common External Tariff (CET) of the UEMOA.

Applicable Customs rates are according to the category the imported product belongs to: essential assets on a closed list: category I, 0% - essentials, basic raw materials, capital goods, specific inputs: category II, 5% - intermediate inputs and goods: category III, 10% - goods for final consumption and other products not mentioned elsewhere: category IV, 20%.

The Customs duty base is the CIF value. The documents to be provided are a commercial invoice, a certificate of origin for third countries and an EUR1 certificate. To determine the category of your product, you can consult theCustoms classification in force in Côte d'Ivoire (in conformity with the Harmonized System).

Importing samples

To import samples, you must request an authorization from the General Directorate of Customs, then use an ATA carnet.

For further information

Ivorian Customs

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

Ivory Coast has two autonomous ports: Abidjan and San Pedro. Although the autonomous port of Abidjan is expanding, it has lost its position as the leading Franc Zone port to the advantage of Dakar, but it continues to occupy a particular place in West Africa. A major part of Burkina Faso and Mali's exports transits this port.

Regarding external air links, Côte d'Ivoire only has one international airport, in Abidjan, but it has 27 other airports for domestic flights.

The railway network in Côte d'Ivoire links Abidjan and Ouagadougou. This line handles international traffic with Burkina Faso. It carries passengers and freight.

The railway carries most of the exports of cocoa, coffee and other agricultural products.

Ports

Autonomous Port of Abidjan

Airports

Abidjan Airport (in French)

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of Transport

Air transport organizations

National Civil Aviation Authority

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Transport

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of Transport

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

The industrial sector represents 21% of the GDP. It is mainly made up of the industries processing cocoa, coffee and shea. The petroleum industry is growing.

Business directories

Ivory Cost White and Yellow Pages
Wafta
ABC

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Association of Rubber Professionals in Ivory Cost
National Union of Entrepreneurs in Building and Public Works in Ivory Cost

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Ivory Cost Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Enterprises federation

General Confederation of Companies in Côte d'Ivoire

Standards

National standards organizations

Côte d'Ivoire Standardization

Integration in the international standards network

Côte d'Ivoire is a corresponding member country of ISO (International Organization for Standardization). A corresponding member is generally an organisation in a country which has not yet fully developed its national activity in the field of standardization. Here, the organization is CODINORM. It's also a member of the African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC).

Classification of standards

Ivorian standards (NI) are generally derived from French standards and follow ICS classification. Further information is available at CODINORM.

Online consultation of standards

Consult the standards on CODINORM.

Certification organizations

CODINORM

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

Côte d'Ivoire has signed the agreement establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). You can contact the Ivorian Office of Intellectual Property (OIPI) by Email.

Regional organizations

Member of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) (in French).

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property