Import, export, and wholesale and retail trade are lucrative industries in Ghana with large, inelastic markets. Retail is slightly less capital intensive than import, export and wholesale and therefore more local businesses are attracted to it.

The import industry has high potential for investors. At its current rate, local production in most sectors is not enough to satisfy local consumption and therefore import rates will continue to grow until the country can produce in-demand goods at competitive prices. Import is expected to make up 6% of GDP in 2010.

Exports of non-traditional products such as fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts and handicrafts are growing at a high rate. Export of non-traditional products brought in $400 million between January and March of 2010 and international demand for them is high. Other exported products include cocoa beans, timber, and minerals. The discovery of oil in Ghana is expected to increase the export industry’s share of GDP to about 5%. In the past, export has accounted for between 2% and 3% of GDP, which is pegged against the growth of domestic products.

The top five players in the import, export, and wholesale and retail trade industries are:

Foreign partnerships (first and second class) are boosting growth. The business landscape is seeing many partnerships being formed between competing businesses in order to gain market share. The industry also has many trade exhibitions and conferences that bring together the major players and smaller businesses.