The overall balance of Niger's balance of payments showed a surplus of 317.935 billion FCFA (476.902 million euros) in 2019 after four years of successive deficits , according to data from the Central Bank of East African States. West (BCEAO) validated by the Balance of Payments Committee of this country.

The balance of payments is a statistical statement that records all economic and financial flows between residents of a country and non-residents over a given period, usually a year.

"This situation essentially reflects the strength of foreign direct investment and public investment in connection with the construction of public and private infrastructure, including the renovation of Niamey airport, the construction of numerous hotels, roads , bridges over the Niger River, investments by prospecting and mining and oil companies, tempered by the consumption of specialized services, the payment of interest on the external debt as well as the purchase of food products", explain the issuing institute services.

The structural deficit of the current account increased by 2.1%, from 902.614 billion FCFA in 2018 to 921.310 billion in 2019, mainly attributable to the deterioration of the balance of goods and services, mitigated by the surplus secondary income.

The trade deficit, for its part, experienced a deterioration of 103.658 billion FCFA in absolute value and 17.3% in relative value in 2019, resulting from the increase in imports, combined with a drop in exports. Exports fell from 668.217 billion FCFA in 2018 to 659.728 billion FCFA in 2019. The BCEAO gives as causes for this 1.3% drop the contraction in sales of agro-pastoral products caused by the closure of Nigeria's borders, despite the increase in uranium shipments.

For their part, imports recorded an increase of 7.5%, driven mainly by purchases of capital and intermediate goods as well as those of food and everyday consumer products.

The deficit in the balance of services worsened by CFAF 7.414 billion, in line with the increase in freight expenditure induced by the increase in imports and the consumption of specialized external services, mitigated by travel receipts due to the organization of the African Union summit during the year 2019.

As for the balance of primary income, it deteriorated by 5.858 billion FCFA during the period under review, mainly in connection with the increase in investment income, tempered by the improvement in the surplus of remuneration of employees. .

The secondary income account stood at 368.425 billion FCFA in 2019 against 270.091 billion FCFA a year earlier, in line with the increase in public and private transfers, in particular budgetary aid and remittances from migrant workers.

As for the capital account, it increased by 6.69% to 369.790 billion FCFA in 2019 against 346.578 billion FCFA in 2018. According to the BCEAO, this increase is mainly due to project grants received by the Nigerien State and the other sectors.

The balance of the financial account (which tracks net acquisitions of assets and net increases in financial liabilities) fell from -446.320 billion FCFA in 2018 to -873.947 billion FCFA in 2019, attributable to all its components (direct investments - 401.419 billion, portfolio investments -155.729 billion and other investments -316.799 billion).