China’s dominant role as supplier

In 2025, China delivered 306.5 billion FCFA worth of goods to Chad, representing 30.7% of total imports — an unassailable lead over other partners. Cameroon, the second-largest supplier, trailed far behind with 108.4 billion FCFA, three times less. Libya ranked third with 85.8 billion (8.6%).

What China exports to Chad reflects the nature of this trade relationship: manufactured goods, industrial equipment, and consumer products. It is a classic north-south dynamic where the African country absorbs industrial output from the Asian economy in exchange for raw materials. Beijing has successfully replicated this model across the continent over the past two decades.

The United Arab Emirates as an export platform

On the export side, the UAE stands as Chad’s top buyer, purchasing 333.3 billion FCFA worth of goods, or 26.2% of total exports. It surpasses Malaysia (297.8 billion, 23.4%) and Germany (279.9 billion, 22%).

The role of the Emirates here is less that of a final consumer and more of a redistribution hub. Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as global trade centres where Chadian crude oil transits, sometimes processed or blended, before being rerouted to other markets. This intermediation is lucrative for the Emirates and acceptable for Chad — but it means N’Djamena does not always know the final destination of its own resources.

30.7% of imports come from China — a regional record.
26.2% of exports are captured by the UAE.
79.8% of imports are concentrated among the top ten partners.

France and the United States present but eclipsed

France, despite its historical ties with Chad, accounts for only 5.1% of imports (50.9 billion FCFA), ranking sixth. The United States holds fifth place with 53.0 billion (5.3%). These figures show 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 diverse import landscape, revealing a Chad that diversifies its supply sources while remaining heavily dependent on China for volume.

A geography of dependencies needing reconfiguration

The strategic lesson from this data is clear: Chad sells to a very concentrated set of destinations (the top ten buyers account for 98.9% of exports) and sources from more diverse suppliers, though still dominated by Beijing. This double concentration exposes the country to external shocks that a trade diversification policy — both for exports and imports — could mitigate.