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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Mauritania Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, released July 1999   Note*

V. LEADING SECTORS FOR US EXPORTS AND INVESTMENT

Independent of overall economic conditions, three market segments offer good prospects for US exporters over the near term: foodstuffs (especially wheat, flour, rice, powdered milk, and canned food), mining equipment (machinery and trucks), and telecommunications.

Best Prospects for Non-Agricultural Goods and Services:

Industrial sector statistics on the best prospects for U.S. business are not available. However, potential sales exist for U.S. mining equipment exporters, since iron ore sales are usually in USD, and SNIM prefers to purchase from dollar-based suppliers. In addition to the mining sector, telecommunications, fishing, wind and solar energies offer opportunities to US suppliers.

Best prospects are (in USD millions): RANK TOTAL IMPORTS PRODUCTS FROM THE U.S. 1 13.2 Miscellaneous equipment and parts 2 2.3 Mining tractors

In addition, the following are considered market opportunities for U.S. exports:

- Cigarettes
- Mining equipment
- Telecommunications equipment and service
- Pharmaceutical products
- Medical equipment
- Computers, hardware, and software
- Parts, accessories, and tools
- Wind and solar energies
- Miscellaneous cosmetics products and toiletries

In addition to these items, Mauritania imports a large quantity of oil and clothing. In 1998, Mauritania imported goods worth nearly USD 28M from the United States, representing a 6.6% share of total imports in that year and a 36% increase over 1997. (N.B. Mauritanian imports from the United States include SNIM's imports, which transit through France and are counted in U.S. statistics as U.S. exports to France.) As a former French colony most of whose businesspeople speak French, Mauritania retains strong commercial ties with France. The French maintain a strong commercial presence through export credits, loans, and economic development assistance. The proximity of the Canary Islands makes Spain another important trading partner.

In 1998, SNIM, the largest Mauritanian importer of U.S.-made equipment, imported U.S. mining equipment and spare parts totaling USD 19.3M. SNIM deals with 38 US companies and considers them its best suppliers. In 1998-99, SNIM implemented several projects for diversifying its activities. These projects, co-financed by the European Union and the African Development Bank, consisted of the following:

- Construction of a desalination factory;
- Restoration and improvement of the Nouadhibou harbor;
- Improvement of the Guelb plant;
- Development of the tourism sector;
- Prospection for gold, silver, and copper
- Expansion of the existing capacity for electricity and water production.

SNIM is still interested in locating new suppliers of mining equipment, electricity stations, water supply technologies, geological research appliances, and tourism partners.

Best Prospects for Agricultural Products:

GIRM's decision to eliminate the monopoly of the state food importing company, SONIMEX, led private merchants to import substantial quantities of wheat, flour, rice, and sugar. As seen below, Mauritania's cereal production in 1998-99 covered only 35% of its total needs. The GIRM still seeks food aid and is encouraging commercial imports of cereals to cover the food deficit. Following is the forecast of cereal imports:

	1997-98	1998-99*	1999-00**
Total market size	461,853	527,294	550,000
Total local production	152,173	189,709	230,000
Total exports	0	0	0
Cereal Aid	18,950	9,500	12,000
Total imports	290,730	328,085	308,000
Total imports from U.S.	0	0	0

*The 1998/99 statistics are official estimates.
**The 1999/00 statistics are official projections.
(Figures in metric tons).

The best opportunities for U.S. exporters of agricultural products and materials are as follows:

- Grain
- Agricultural machinery and commodities
- Water supply equipment
- Well-drilling and irrigation equipment