Import Composition and Dependency
Angola’s import profile reveals a stark structural dependency: the country imports approximately 80% of its food supply and the vast majority of manufactured goods, machinery, and consumer products. This import intensity is a direct consequence of decades of civil war destruction, underinvestment in productive capacity, and the Dutch Disease effects of oil wealth that hollowed out non-oil sectors.
Import Breakdown
| Category | Share of Total Imports (approx.) | Key Products |
|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 25-30% | Rice, wheat, poultry, sugar, cooking oil |
| Machinery and equipment | 15-20% | Oil sector, construction, industrial |
| Transport equipment | 10-15% | Vehicles, spare parts, maritime |
| Manufactured goods | 10-15% | Steel, cement, consumer durables |
| Chemicals and pharmaceuticals | 8-10% | Medicines, fertilizers, plastics |
| Fuel and refined products | 5-8% | Diesel, gasoline (paradoxically, despite crude exports) |
| Other | 10-15% | Textiles, electronics, construction materials |
Food Import Dependency
The most strategically consequential aspect of Angola’s import profile is food dependency. An estimated 80% of food consumed in Angola is imported, creating several vulnerabilities:
- FX drain: Food imports consume a large share of FX earnings from oil exports, reducing the reserves available for debt service and development imports
- Inflation transmission: Global food price increases pass directly through to domestic CPI, with food carrying a 45-50% weight in the consumer price basket
- Food security risk: Supply chain disruptions (shipping delays, port congestion, global shortages) translate directly into domestic scarcity
- Balance of payments pressure: Food imports are a structural current account drain regardless of economic cycle
Key food imports include rice (primarily from Thailand and India), wheat flour, poultry (Brazil and Portugal), sugar, and cooking oil. The government’s PRODESI program aims to reduce food import dependence through domestic agricultural development, but progress has been slow given the sector’s structural constraints.
Capital Goods and Oil Sector
Machinery and equipment imports serve primarily two sectors:
- Oil and gas: IOCs import specialized equipment for offshore operations, with local content regulations gradually increasing the domestic procurement share
- Construction: The government’s infrastructure program drives demand for heavy equipment, steel, and cement imports
These imports represent productive investment and are less concerning from a dependency perspective than food imports, though they create FX demand and are sensitive to budget allocation decisions.
The Refined Fuel Paradox
Despite being sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest crude oil producer, Angola imports refined petroleum products (diesel, gasoline, jet fuel) because domestic refining capacity is grossly insufficient. The Luanda refinery processes only a fraction of domestic needs, with the remainder imported at international prices. A new 200,000 bpd refinery at Cabinda Soyo (in development) aims to address this gap, but full commissioning is years away.
This paradox means Angola simultaneously exports crude oil and imports the refined products needed for domestic transport and power generation, losing the value-added margin and creating an unnecessary FX outflow.
Import Source Countries
| Country | Share of Imports (approx.) | Key Products |
|---|---|---|
| China | 20-25% | Machinery, electronics, consumer goods |
| Portugal | 10-15% | Food, beverages, construction materials |
| Brazil | 8-10% | Food (poultry, sugar), industrial goods |
| USA | 5-8% | Oil sector equipment, vehicles |
| South Africa | 5-7% | Consumer goods, food, machinery |
| India | 4-6% | Rice, pharmaceuticals |
Import Substitution Strategy
The government’s import substitution agenda targets:
- Domestic food production expansion (cassava, maize, livestock, fisheries)
- Local manufacturing of beverages, cement, and building materials
- Domestic refining capacity to eliminate fuel product imports
- Technology transfer requirements in oil sector procurement
Outlook
Reducing import dependency is central to Angola’s economic diversification and fiscal sustainability. However, the structural nature of import needs – particularly food – means that meaningful reduction will require sustained investment in agriculture, transport infrastructure, and human capital over a 10-20 year horizon. In the near term, the import bill will remain a critical determinant of the trade balance, FX reserve dynamics, and inflation trajectory.