‘Salone’ Trade Deficit Widens to $85.6 million
Sierra Leone’s trade gap grew sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with the deficit widening to US$85.6 million from US$56.1 million in the previous period.
Data show the pressure came from both sides of the trade balance. Imports climbed to US$462.2 million, while exports slipped to US$376.6 million.
Fuel imports were the main driver behind the higher import bill, pushing total purchases from abroad up despite weaker demand for some other categories.
On the export side, earnings fell to US$376.6 million for the quarter, dragging the overall balance further into deficit.
The widening gap comes even as the country’s external buffers showed improvement. Foreign reserves rose to cover 2.3 months of imports, up from earlier levels, giving the central bank more room to manage currency and payment pressures in the short Parliament’s note that higher fuel costs tend to feed quickly into transport and power prices in Sierra Leone, which can weigh on households and businesses even when reserves look healthier.
The Q1 figures set the tone for trade in 2026, with policymakers likely to watch export performance and the fuel import bill closely in the months ahead to see if the deficit narrows.