flag Fiji Islands Fiji Islands: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Fiji is open to foreign trade, which represents 117% of the country’s GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Trade remains very much controlled by the government, and customs duties are relatively high, with an average applied tariff rate of around 8.3% (World Bank). Furthermore, non-tariff barriers - such as the restrictions on import licenses, several different import taxes, and tax incentives offered to local exporters – contribute to hindering foreign trade. Fiji’s main domestic exports include sugar, garments, and fresh fish; while imports are led by mineral products, vehicles, plastics, textiles, and wheat (data Statistics Fiji, 2022).

According to data by Comtrade, in 2022, Fiji’s major sources of imports were Singapore (25.9%), China (15.7%), Australia (15.6%), New Zealand (13.5%), Malaysia (3.9%). The main destinations for exports were the United States (21.0%), Australia (10.5%), Tonga (6.8%), New Zealand (6.2%), and Samoa (3.3%). Fiji has a number of free trade agreements, and the government launched the National Export Strategy (NES) to increase the level of exports.

The country has a structural trade deficit that has been growing in recent years. In 2022, Fiji exported USD 1 million worth of merchandise against USD 3 billion in imports; while concerning services exports stood at USD 1.3 billion vis-à-vis USD 753 million in imports (data WTO). According to the World Bank, the country’s trade deficit accounted for 21.1% of GDP in 2022, from 27.2% one year earlier. According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2023, domestic exports stood at USD 1.34 billion (-2% year-on-year), whereas imports totaled almost USD 7 billion (+5.8% y-o-y).

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,7341,7312,1162,9973,118
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,0338268151,0551,017
Imports of Services (million USD) 792498510754958
Exports of Services (million USD) 1,6104112841,3292,238
Trade Balance (million USD) -1,388-660-947-1,632n/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 1077282108n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 59445562n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 48282746n/a

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United States 19.9%
Australia 9.7%
Tonga 6.9%
New Zealand 5.3%
Vanuatu 4.1%
See More Countries 54.2%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Singapore 25.6%
Australia 15.4%
China 15.0%
New Zealand 13.6%
United States 5.1%
See More Countries 25.1%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

1.1 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 26.1%
Waters, incl. natural or artificial mineral waters...Waters, incl. natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar, other sweetening matter or flavoured; ice and snow 14.8%
Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in...Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form 6.0%
Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish...Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304) 5.0%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 4.1%
See More Products 43.9%
3.1 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 23.1%
Instruments and appliances used in medical,...Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, incl. scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments, n.e.s. 3.0%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.8%
Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular...Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, incl. apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network [such as a local or wide area network]; parts thereof (excl. than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528) 2.7%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 2.1%
See More Products 66.3%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs Duties

 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Useful Resources
Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA)
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
The Office of the Attorney-General.
 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024