Togo Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in Togo, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.
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Market Overview
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Togo is a small West African country of about 9.5 million people and regional logistics hub. Its strategic location between Ghana and Benin, combined with membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and deep-water seaport in Lome, make it a key entry point for goods moving across the region. The Port of Lome ranks as the fifth busiest in Africa by container volume and serves as the primary trade route for landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. In addition, Togo offers a free trade zone regime that provides tax and customs incentives to export-oriented companies operating in designated zones, while the rest of the economy follows ECOWAS common external tariffs.

Togo’s real GDP is projected to grow by about 5.2 percent in 2025, according to the IMF. Growth is driven by three sectors: agriculture, a major employer and source of exports; trade and services linked to the Port of Lome and regional re-exports; and industrial and infrastructure investment, including projects at the Adetikope Industrial Platform (PIA), which supports value-added manufacturing, logistics, and exports. Trade is central to Togo’s economy, with exports and imports representing more than 60 percent of GDP. Inflation is easing, declining from 2.9% in 2024 to 0.8% in September 2025, supporting overall macroeconomic stability.

The Togolese government is making significant investments in its logistics and transportation sectors in partnership with a wide range of international partners. Togo continues to modernize its transportation assets, including its three sub-regional road corridors, the Port of Lome supported by the Adetikope dry port, and the Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, with cotton, cocoa, and coffee as the main exports. Cashews and soybeans offer additional growth opportunities. Togo also has large reserves of phosphates and limestone that are central to its extractive industry exports. Light manufacturing, including agro-processing and textiles, are expanding.

Government policy is guided by the National Development Plan and Togo Roadmap 2025, which prioritize infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, light manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital services. The government continues to implement business-friendly reforms aimed at improving the investment climate. Recent progress includes expedited business registration through a one-stop shop, expanded tax incentives for foreign investors, streamlined administrative procedures, and the digitization of many public services. Despite these advances, challenges persist—such as limited access to credit, gaps in infrastructure, and the dominance of the informal economy—but the business environment is gradually improving.

Togo is a member of ECOWAS, WAEMU, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Togo uses the CFA franc (XOF), which is pegged to the euro, providing monetary stability. Lome hosts regional financial institutions such as the West African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.

U.S.-Togo trade is modest but expanding. In 2024, U.S. exports to Togo totaled about $270 million—compared to $392 million in 2023—while 2024 U.S. imports reached $90 million—up from $83 million in 2023. Emerging opportunities exist for U.S. companies in agribusiness, energy, information and communication technology (ICT), infrastructure, logistics, and transport.

Lome’s Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport connects the capital to major regional and international hubs, including daily flights to the United States (New York and Washington). French is the official language, but most Togolese speak a variety of local languages. English is expanding among the government and business communities. Business culture is formal, and investing the time and physical presence to build trust in relationships is important for long-term success.

Political Environment

Visit the State Department’s website for background on the Togo’s political and economic environment.

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