# Vanuatu Export Playbook for Africa

![Yugalinks](https://www.yugalinks.com/trade/yugalinks-logo-v3-dark-mode.webp)

> Yugalinks regional export playbook

Compare buyer markets, access conditions, and calculated product opportunities in Africa. Use this guide to prioritize research, not to treat calculated indicators as guaranteed sales.

## Navigation

- [Yugalinks home](https://www.yugalinks.com/)
- [Trade data](https://www.yugalinks.com/trade/)
- [Open country workspace](https://www.yugalinks.com/app/countries)
- [Data sources](https://www.yugalinks.com/data-sources)
- [Methodology](https://www.yugalinks.com/methodology)

## Overview

- Exporter: Vanuatu (VUT)
- Region: Africa
- Latest trade year: 2024
- Buyer markets: 7
- Calculated three-year opportunity: $1.0B
- Reported FTA markets: 0
- Average reported distance: 15,184 km
- Average business entry indicator: 26 days

## Market comparison

| Market | ISO3 | Opportunity | Products | FTA | Distance | Entry days | Top product |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | ---: | ---: | --- |
| South Africa | ZAF | $397.2M | 5 | Not reported | 13,452 km | 40 | Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material |
| Gabon | GAB | $226.3M | 2 | Not reported | 17,021 km | 10 | Vessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function, floating docks |
| Egypt | EGY | $103.3M | 2 | Not reported | 15,484 km | 13 | Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 |
| Ghana | GHA | $100.4M | 1 | Not reported | 18,191 km | 13 | Commodities not specified according to kind |
| Namibia | NAM | $99.5M | 2 | Not reported | 14,560 km | 54 | Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale |
| Congo, Rep. of the | COG | $69.7M | 1 | Not reported | 16,196 km | 50 | Vessels: n.e.s. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods |
| Mauritius | MUS | $17.1M | 1 | Not reported | 11,382 km | 5 | Fish: frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99 |

## Product and market opportunities

| Rank | Market | Product | Opportunity | Buyer growth | Current share |
| ---: | --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1 | Gabon (GAB) | HS 890590 - Vessels: light, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function, floating docks | $202.8M | +38.3% | +0.3% |
| 2 | South Africa (ZAF) | HS 382200 - Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material | $166.7M | +9.8% | +0.0% |
| 3 | South Africa (ZAF) | HS 901890 - Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in heading no. 9018 | $113.0M | +5.8% | +0.0% |
| 4 | Ghana (GHA) | HS 999999 - Commodities not specified according to kind | $100.4M | +21.8% | +8.3% |
| 5 | Egypt (EGY) | HS 392690 - Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 | $83.8M | +7.7% | +0.0% |
| 6 | Namibia (NAM) | HS 300490 - Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $70.1M | +8.3% | +0.0% |
| 7 | Congo, Rep. of the (COG) | HS 890190 - Vessels: n.e.s. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods | $69.7M | +25.5% | +12.6% |
| 8 | South Africa (ZAF) | HS 610990 - T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of textile materials (other than cotton), knitted or crocheted | $56.1M | +7.7% | +0.0% |
| 9 | South Africa (ZAF) | HS 210690 - Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10 | $41.9M | +6.9% | +0.0% |
| 10 | Namibia (NAM) | HS 300339 - Medicaments: containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale | $29.5M | +24.7% | +0.0% |
| 11 | Gabon (GAB) | HS 890190 - Vessels: n.e.s. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods | $23.5M | +19.3% | +24.4% |
| 12 | Egypt (EGY) | HS 847330 - Machines: parts and accessories of automatic data processing, magnetic or optical readers, digital processing units | $19.5M | -0.2% | +0.0% |
| 13 | South Africa (ZAF) | HS 030389 - Fish: frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99 | $19.5M | +8.2% | +0.3% |
| 14 | Mauritius (MUS) | HS 030389 - Fish: frozen, n.e.c. in heading 0303, excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99 | $17.1M | +9.0% | +0.0% |

## Sector opportunities

| Sector | Products | Reported buyer imports | Opportunity | Average growth |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| HS2 89 - HS2 sector 89 | 3 | $236.8M | $296.0M | +27.7% |
| HS2 38 - HS2 sector 38 | 1 | $338.9M | $166.7M | +9.8% |
| HS2 90 - HS2 sector 90 | 1 | $353.1M | $113.0M | +5.8% |
| HS2 99 - HS2 sector 99 | 1 | $126.1M | $100.4M | +21.8% |
| HS2 30 - HS2 sector 30 | 2 | $104.1M | $99.5M | +16.5% |
| HS2 39 - HS2 sector 39 | 1 | $180.2M | $83.8M | +7.7% |
| HS2 61 - HS2 sector 61 | 1 | $84.7M | $56.1M | +7.7% |
| HS2 21 - HS2 sector 21 | 1 | $227.4M | $41.9M | +6.9% |

## Frequently asked questions

### Should Vanuatu focus on Africa?

Use the market ranking as a starting point, then check product fit, buyer requirements, route costs, tariffs, standards, and competitive conditions.

### What does calculated opportunity mean?

It is a screening indicator built from demand and exporter-position signals. It is not a confirmed order, sales forecast, or guarantee of market entry.

### How should exporters use this page?

Prioritize one market and product combination, then validate buyers, compliance, logistics, pricing, and continuity before making a commercial decision.

## Method

Reported trade observations and calculated indicators are shown separately. Validate buyers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and competition before acting.

Yugalinks presents derived views for research and planning. [Read the full methodology](https://www.yugalinks.com/methodology).

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.