by Flagpictures.org

An island nation in the Indian Ocean near the East African coast, Madagascar’s imports cost a total US$5.22 billion in 2025.

That dollar amount reflects a 19.1% increase from $4.4 billion five years earlier in 2021.

From 2024 to 2025, the overall cost of Madagascar’s imported products grew by 8.6% starting from $4.8 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the Malagasy ariary appreciated by 2.9% from 2024 to 2025. Madagascar’s stronger local currency makes Malagasy imports paid for in weaker US dollars relatively less expensive when converted starting from Malagasy’s national currency.

Domestically, Madagascar’s inflation rate in terms of its average consumer prices was 8.43% in 2025 rising from 7.64% for 2024.

The latest available country-specific data shows that 77.4% of products imported into Madagascar was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (25.5% of the Malagasy total), Oman (12.4%), India (6.8%), France (5.5%), Pakistan (5.1%), United Arab Emirates (4.9%), Malaysia (4%), South Africa (3.9%), Mauritius (2.7%), Egypt (2.5%), United States of America (2.1%) and Argentina (1.9%).

From a continental perspective, over two-thirds (68.7%) of Madagascar’s total imports by value in 2025 was purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners based in Europe supplied 15.7% of import purchases by Madagascar while another 10.3% worth of goods originated from traders also located in Africa.

Smaller percentage came from North America (2.7%), Latin America (2.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Madagascar’s population of 31.4 million people, its total US$5.22 billion in 2025 spending on imports translates to roughly $170 in yearly product demand from every person in the East African country. That per-capita amount surpasses the average $155 one year earlier in 2024.

Madagascar’s top 10 imports exceeded three-fifths (63.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Malagasy imports of cereals grew by 85.2% from 2024 to 2025, propelled by higher spending on rice.

In second place for Madagascar’s fastest increasing import purchases was the salt, sulphur, stone and cement category (up 70.4%).

In third place were animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes (up 39.8%) ahead of imported vehicles (up 8.4%).

The severest year-over-year declines belong to machinery including computers (down -8.1% from 2024) and imported plastics both as materials and items made from plastic (down -1.7%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

At the more detailed 4-digit HTS level, buyers in Madagascar spent the most on imported processed petroleum oils (17.2% of total cost), rice (3%), medication mixes in dosage (2.8%), fabrics other than warp-knit (also 2.8%), palm oil (2.6%), sugar (also 2.6%), trucks (2.1%), cars (1.8%), worn clothing (also 1.8%) then hydraulic cements (1.7%).

Among these import subcategories, Madagascar’s purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 237.4%), peat (up 1.7%) then petroleum gases (up 0.8%) grew from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Malagasy businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Madagascar’s purchases of grain sorghum (up 427.6%), rice (up 137.6%) then other cereals including buckwheat, millet and canary seed (up 33.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of cereals imported by Malagasy businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Madagascar’s purchases of refrigerators and freezers (up 92.8%), computers or optical readers (up 63.1%) then temperature-change machines (up 22.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Malagasy businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Madagascar’s purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 173.3%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 31.4%) then tractors (up 20.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles among Malagasy businesses and consumers.
 

See also Top African Export Countries, Madagascar’s Top Trading Partners, Seychelles Top 10 Exports and Madagascar’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on October 30, 2026

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on October 30, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 30, 2026

Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on October 30, 2026

Wikipedia, List of Companies of Madagascar. Accessed on October 30, 2026

Wikipedia, Madagascar. Accessed on October 30, 2026