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The twenty imports Madagascar is best placed to replace.

Madagascar imported USD 3.3bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 1.4bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.

USD 526mthe twenty, imported in 2024
26products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
436products Madagascar already exports well
62product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Madagascar already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Madagascar would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Madagascar does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromPakistan 63%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 81m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); Pakistan supplies 63 per cent (2).

    USD 81mup 13% on 2022
  2. 2

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

    Comes fromMauritius 81%, 17 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics: warp knit (including those made on galloon knitting... (exports USD 83k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 627k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 58m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 53m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Mauritius supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 53mup 6% on 2022
  3. 3

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromTurkey 79%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 29mdown 11% on 2022
  4. 4

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromBrazil 41%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 67m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); Brazil supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 67mup 111% on 2022
  5. 5

    Furnishing articles: of cotton, not knitted or crocheted (excluding bedspreads and articles of heading no. 9404)HS 630492

    Comes fromIndia 85%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTextiles: made up articles (including dress patterns), n.e.c. in... (exports USD 11m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 19k
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 19m, top 34 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); India supplies 85 per cent (2).

    USD 19mfrom USD 748k in 2022
  6. 6

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromIndia 27%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 54m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2).

    USD 54mup 10% on 2022
  7. 7

    Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540769

    Comes fromChina 95%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 5k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 41m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 44 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 89% on 2022
  8. 8

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of different colours, weighing more than 200g/m2...HS 520942

    Comes fromIndia 57%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthEnsembles: women's or girls', of cotton (not knitted or crocheted) (exports USD 322k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 50 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); India supplies 57 per cent (1).

    USD 15mdown 1% on 2022
  9. 9

    Soap: in forms n.e.c. in item no. 3401.11HS 340120

    Comes fromIndonesia 69%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 69 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Indonesia supplies 69 per cent (2).

    USD 13mdown 44% on 2022
  10. 10

    Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with aluminium zinc-alloysHS 721061

    Comes fromChina 100%, 1 source country
    Nearest export strengthSteel: stainless: line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas pipelines... (exports USD 661k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 24m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1); China supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 2% on 2022
  11. 11

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromChina 77%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 126k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 39 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); China supplies 77 per cent (2).

    USD 17mup 61% on 2022
  12. 12

    Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the...HS 701090

    Comes fromTanzania 43%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 158k
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 40 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Tanzania supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 17mdown 20% on 2022
  13. 13

    Undenatured ethyl alcohol: of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higherHS 220710

    Comes fromSouth Africa 62%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthProtein: concentrates and textured protein substances (exports USD 491k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 16m, top 47 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); South Africa supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 16mup 33% on 2022
  14. 14

    Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty...HS 382319

    Comes fromIndonesia 67%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 15m, top 52 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); Indonesia supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 15mdown 5% on 2022
  15. 15

    Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing...HS 521142

    Comes fromChina 68%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 90k)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 79 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); China supplies 68 per cent (2).

    USD 12mup 13% on 2022
  16. 16

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromChina 44%, 48 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 32 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 40 per cent (1); China supplies 44 per cent (1).

    USD 21mup 69% on 2022
  17. 17

    Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or...HS 300420

    Comes fromChina 53%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 78k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 104m
    Countries that export it well36

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 35 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); China supplies 53 per cent (1).

    USD 17mup 57% on 2022
  18. 18

    Paper and paperboard: exercise booksHS 482020

    Comes fromChina 58%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 53 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); China supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 39% on 2022
  19. 19

    Reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording...HS 852872

    Comes fromChina 75%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 8k
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 58 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); China supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 14mdown 12% on 2022
  20. 20

    Plastics: carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles, for the conveyance or packing of goodsHS 392330

    Comes fromMauritius 81%, 35 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 259k
    Countries that export it well47

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 61 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Madagascar's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Mauritius supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 8% on 2022

The bill and its path, the sources and their unit values, who exports the line well, the nearest strengths, the public buyers where a country publishes them, and the method. We reply by email. Privacy

One line per customs heading. Products Madagascar already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of... imports USD 14m, exports USD 897k, top source Vietnam 58%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 62 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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What Madagascar buys, and from whom: the trade lanes into Madagascar.

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