ELS: MBN360 BUSINESS
Diesel and petrol remains Ghana’s largest imported commodities in 2025, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on imported petroleum products. In spite of efforts to strengthen domestic refining capacity and improve trade balance, high volumes of petroleum importation persists.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) 2025 Annual International Merchandise Trade Statistics Report, diesel imported for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) was the country’s single-largest import item for 2025, valued at GH¢28.46 billion, accounting for 11.2% of Ghana’s total import bill.
Light oils, including petrol, known in the industry as premium motor spirit, ranked second, with imports amounting to GH¢23.24 billion, representing 9.2% of total imports.
Together, diesel and petrol imports totaled GH¢51.7 billion, accounting for more than one-fifth of the country’s total import expenditure in 2025. This highlights the considerable impact energy consumption has on Ghana’s external trade.
The figures reinforce the importance of expanding domestic refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported fuels to lessen pressure on foreign exchange and also strengthen the country’s balance of trade.
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Beyond refined petroleum products, importation of used vehicles with engine capacities ranging from 1,500cc to 3,000cc emerged as the third-largest import commodity. With a value of about GH¢9.33 billion imported used vehicles out paced the importation of Crude petroleum which ranked fourth, at GH¢5.78 billion. Clinker for cement took the fifth position as the product with the highest import volume, a value of GH¢4.76 billion.
Other major imports include off-highway dumpers, used vehicles with engine capacities between 1,000cc and 1,500cc, self-propelled bulldozers, processed cereal grains and frozen chicken.
The report noted that the country’s top 10 imported commodities accounted for 34.3% of total imports, with all other goods making up the remaining 65.7%.
The findings point to the continued dominance of energy products, transport equipment and industrial inputs dominating Ghana’s import structure while also highlighting persistent challenges associated with the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products and capital goods despite ongoing efforts at industrialization and import-substitution initiatives.
Ghana’s total import bill stood at GH¢253.23 billion for 2025
