How does Yemen’s trade profile look? Level of exports and imports over thirty years, structural composition, partner concentration, and the position on the economic-complexity frontier.
exports 2024$661.6M
imports 2024$8.8B
balance-$8.1B
eci rank#193 / 226
products exported558
Figure 1
Yemen: merchandise exports and imports, 1995-2024
Exports grew from $1.9B in 1995 to $661.6M in 2024, a CAGR of -3.5%. The merchandise balance sits at -$8.1B, which is -1231% of exports , a simple scale normalisation over the available BACI series. Note that exports are f.o.b. and imports c.i.f., so a meaningful portion of the gap reflects freight and insurance baked into the import valuation rather than a real shortfall in receipts (CIF/FOB spreads typically run 5-10% per UNCTAD/IMF BOP methodology, but country-specific values vary). The more conventional open-economy metric is the current- account balance as % of GDP, reported on the /macro/YEM page.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28), f.o.b. exports and c.i.f. imports, summed across all reporters.Figure 1b
The structural change in what a country exports, from agriculture to manufactures to services, or between HS sections, is one of the most studied transitions in development economics (Imbs & Wacziarg 2003; Hausmann, Hwang & Rodrik 2007). The chart below shows the five largest HS sections of Yemen’s exports in 2024, plotted back thirty years.
Figure 2
Top-5 HS sections of exports, 1995-2024
Figure 2b
Export basket by HS chapter, 2024 · top-30 $657.6M of $661.6M total
Figure 2c
Import basket by HS chapter, 2024 · top-30 $7.5B of $8.8B total
Who it sells to
Figure 3a
World map of export destinations, 2024
Figure 3b
Top 12 export destinations, 2024
Economic complexity
The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) of Hidalgo & Hausmann (2009, PNAS) ranks countries by the productive knowledge embedded in their export basket. Countries that export many products, and whose products are also exported by few others, score high. ECI is predictive of subsequent income growth and structural transformation; see Hausmann et al. (2014, The Atlas of Economic Complexity, MIT Press) for the full methodology and the comparative country atlas.
Figure 4a
Yemen: ECI trajectory, 1995-2024
Current ECI: -1.14, ranked #193 of 226 economies in 2024. ECI is zero-centered; positive values mean above-median complexity.
Method: Hidalgo & Hausmann (2009) “The Building Blocks of Economic Complexity” PNAS 106(26): 10570-10575. Applied to BACI RCA matrix.Figure 4b
Export concentration (HHI) and product count, 1995-2024
2024 HHI = 0.060, equivalent to about 16.6 equally-sized product lines.Yemen exports 558 distinct HS6 products. Rising HHI or falling effective-N indicates loss of diversification.
Revealed comparative advantage (Balassa 1965) says a country is specialised in a product when its share of that product’s world exports exceeds the country’s share of all world exports. A stronger version asks: which HS6 lines does the country lead the world in? The table below lists the ten largest export lines (by value) where Yemen ranks in the world top-5 in 2024, restricted to products with at least US$10M of global trade so tiny niches don’t crowd out economically meaningful positions. This is the “niche leadership” view: products the country is not just diversified in, but competitive at the frontier.
Figure 5
Yemen: top 10 HS6 lines with world top-5 rank, 2024
Yemen holds a top-5 world-export position in 1of its largest export lines (HS6 products with ≥ US$10M world trade, 2024). The leading niche is HS 030264 , Fish: mackerel (scomber scombrus, scomber australasicus, sco , where it ranks #2 globally with 7.0% of world exports. Dominant niches are the revealed-comparative-advantage anchors a trade-shock or industrial- policy analysis should start from.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28), HS6 exporter rankings, 2024. Restricted to products with ≥ US$10M world trade. Method: Balassa (1965) RCA taken to its rank-based extreme, top-5 world rank is a stringent specialisation test.
Peer countries by structural profile
Which economies share the closest structural profile to Yemen? Each country is placed in a three-dimensional space of economic complexity (ECI), log GDP per capita, and log total exports, each standardised to zero mean and unit variance in 2024. The five nearest neighbours by Euclidean distance in that space are Yemen’s closest structural peers, similar on productive-capability, income level, and scale of external trade. This is a trade-specific adaptation of the synthetic-control “donor pool” logic (Abadie, Diamond & Hainmueller 2010).
Figure 6
Yemen: five closest structural peers, 2024
Closest structural peer: Somalia (ECI -1.28, GDP-pc $630, exports $512.0M). Bar length encodes peer proximity in the standardised (ECI, log GDP-pc, log exports) space, shorter bars are closer structural matches. This is the peer set to benchmark trade-policy outcomes against, rather than regional or income-group aggregates. The metric matches on capability frontier and scale, not on sector mix, so countries with similar export composition but different ECI (e.g. higher-complexity apparel exporters) will not appear here.
Method: z-score each dimension (ECI, log GDP-pc, log total exports) across the universe of countries with all three observations in the latest year; rank by Euclidean distance. Abadie, Diamond & Hainmueller (2010) “Synthetic Control Methods for Comparative Case Studies,” JASA 105(490): 493-505.
Margins of export growth
Hummels & Klenow (2005, “The variety and quality of a nation’s exports,” American Economic Review 95(3): 704-723) decomposed cross-country export growth into the extensive margin (exporting more distinct HS6 lines) and the intensive margin (exporting more value per existing line). The decomposition is informative because the two margins respond to different policy levers: trade-cost reductions and discovery push the extensive margin (Melitz 2003), while productivity and demand push the intensive.
Figure 7
Margins of export growth, 2014-2024
Over 10 years, total exports grew at -22.5%/yr. Decomposition: HS6 line count moved from 1,529 to 558 (extensive margin -9.6%/yr); average value per line moved from $5.6M to $1.2M (intensive margin -14.3%/yr). The intensive margin dominates, which by Hummels-Klenow logic indicates growth via deepening sales of existing lines (productivity, scale, or quality).
Method: Hummels & Klenow (2005) AER 95(3): 704-723. Extensive margin = CAGR of distinct HS6 export lines. Intensive margin = CAGR of (total exports / line count). Total CAGR ≈ extensive + intensive (log-linear approximation).
Export basket on the complexity frontier
Figure 8
Yemen: export value vs. product complexity (PCI), 2024
Related
Research index, analytical pieces grounded in BACI flows and gravity covariates
Sector monitor, quarterly deep dives on 12 HS-defined sectors
In 2024, the top three HS sections account for 78% of merchandise exports that map to an HS92 section, a rough measure of sectoral concentration at the coarsest classification level. Shares here are over BACI exports that carry a valid HS92 section mapping, so the five-section series does not sum to 100% of total exports: some HS6 codes (newer HS revisions, non-standard codes) fall outside the 21-section mapping. Note that the top-5 sections are selected by 2024 share, so a section that was dominant in 1995 but has since fallen out of the top 5 will not appear on the chart.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28) crossed with HS92 section codes. Shares are over the HS6-mapped universe; HS6 codes without an HS92 section fall outside the 21-section totals.
Cell area is proportional to 2024 export value. The treemap shows the top 30 HS chapters (HS2 level) of Yemen’s exports; cells are colour-coded by HS section so structurally related chapters share a hue (e.g. minerals, machinery, textiles). The largest chapter, HS 03 , Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, represents 26.2% of the top-30chapter total shown. Compared to Figure 2’s five-section trajectory, this view exposes which specific chapters within the dominant sections drive the overall composition.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28), f.o.b. exports of HS6 codes aggregated to HS2 chapters, 2024. Restricted to top 30 chapters by value.
Cell area is proportional to 2024 import value. The treemap shows the top 30 HS chapters (HS2 level) of Yemen’s imports; cells are colour-coded by HS section so structurally related chapters share a hue. The largest import chapter, HS 10 , Cereals, represents 17.0% of the top-30 chapter total shown. Read alongside Figure 2b to compare what Yemen sells abroad against what it buys in.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28), c.i.f. imports of HS6 codes aggregated to HS2 chapters, 2024. Restricted to top 30 chapters by value.
Each country is shaded by the bilateral value of Yemen’s exports to it in 2024, binned into quintiles. Yemen itself is tinted in amber as the origin; white indicates destinations with no recorded bilateral flow. The map makes regional dependency structures visible, neighbours, former colonial ties, bloc partners, in ways a top-list ordering hides.
Partner concentration measures market exposure. The single largest destination absorbs 30% of Yemen’s exports; the top 3 together take 65%. Concentrated partner bases make bilateral shocks (trade wars, recessions) first-order.
Source: CEPII BACI 202501 (retrieved 2026-04-28), bilateral exports 2024. Shares are over total exports.
Each dot is one HS6 product in Yemen’s basket with more than US$1M in exports in 2024 (long-tail marginal exports below that floor are filtered out so the scatter is legible; the filter drops many HS6 codes for small economies and few for large ones). Horizontal = export value (log), vertical = Product Complexity Index (PCI). Dots upper-right are high-value, high-complexity products (machinery, precision instruments). Lower-left products carry less productive knowledge per dollar. A basket shifted toward the upper-right correlates with higher ECI and higher income.
Method: PCI from Hausmann-Hidalgo (2009) spectral-eigenvector decomposition of the country-product RCA matrix. Basket restricted to HS6 exports > US$1M in the latest year.
Yemen trade-riskGlobal risk rank #36 of 200 (board)
supplier concentration90.8%
top chokepointStrait of Hormuz (89.7%)
price stress 12m4.9%
price coverage0.1%
Dependency diagnosis
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed(540752): you import 97.7% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.61. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: S19 5.4%, KOR 2.3%, TUR 1.7%, IND 1.5%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Footwear: n.e.s. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics(640299): you import 91.4% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.32. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: VNM 17.8%, IDN 5.9%, DEU 4.0%, ITA 2.2%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds(950300): you import 99.0% from China. UNKNOWN World concentration unavailable for this product code.
Vaccines: for human medicine(300220): you import 62.8% from Unknown. MODERATE Moderate, world HHI 0.16; some concentration. Alternatives: BEL 28.6%, IRL 19.7%, USA 13.2%, FRA 8.4%.
Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.s. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres(551511): you import 80.5% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.51. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: IND 13.1%, TUR 5.7%, PRT 2.1%, ITA 1.6%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Plastics: tableware and kitchenware(392410): you import 64.5% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.39. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: TUR 3.0%, DEU 2.5%, USA 2.4%, S19 2.2%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Cases and containers: trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials(420212): you import 99.7% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.48. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: FRA 3.2%, THA 3.1%, IDN 2.4%, BEL 2.2%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Jackets: women's or girls', of cotton, knitted or crocheted(610432): you import 99.9% from China. STRUCTURAL Structural scarcity, world export HHI 0.38. Switching suppliers will not fix this; the world itself is concentrated (top alternatives: ITA 7.0%, TUR 4.0%, ESP 2.6%, FRA 2.4%). Policy: stockpile, substitute the input, or invest in allied/domestic production.
Compound exposures
These flows carry multiple simultaneous stressors on the same product; the averaged risk score understates them.
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed from China: single-source (97.7%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
Footwear: n.e.s. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics from China: single-source (91.4%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds from China: single-source (99.0%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.s. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres from China: single-source (80.5%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
Plastics: tableware and kitchenware from China: single-source (64.5%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
Cases and containers: trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials from China: single-source (99.7%) + transits Strait of Hormuz.
and 39 more compound-risk dependencies.
GeoDep 2022, world shares latest BACI year, Pink Sheet 2026M04. No real-time signal is implied.
where Yemen is exposed
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed (540752): imports 98% from China (CHN). Ranked by import dependency (GeoDep 2022). Single-supplier concentration is the exposure. Model a supply shock →
Footwear: n.e.s. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics (640299): imports 91% from China (CHN). Ranked by import dependency (GeoDep 2022). Single-supplier concentration is the exposure. Model a supply shock →
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds (950300): imports 99% from China (CHN). Ranked by import dependency (GeoDep 2022). Single-supplier concentration is the exposure. Model a supply shock →
Vaccines: for human medicine (300220): imports 63% from Unknown (EUN). Ranked by import dependency (GeoDep 2022). Single-supplier concentration is the exposure. Model a supply shock →
Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.s. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres (551511): imports 80% from China (CHN). Ranked by import dependency (GeoDep 2022). Single-supplier concentration is the exposure. Model a supply shock →
where Yemen could grow
Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale (300490): proximity 0.03 to current capabilities, complexity PCI +2.13, world market $394.4bn. Ranked by density × complexity (product space 2024). See product →
Paints and varnishes: (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather (321000): proximity 0.04 to current capabilities, complexity PCI +1.58, world market $887.5m. Ranked by density × complexity (product space 2024). See product →
Hair preparations: n.e.s. in heading no. 3305 (330590): proximity 0.03 to current capabilities, complexity PCI +1.88, world market $10.6bn. Ranked by density × complexity (product space 2024). See product →
Kraft paper and paperboard: uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets (480442): proximity 0.01 to current capabilities, complexity PCI +4.23, world market $200.4m. Ranked by density × complexity (product space 2024). See product →
Tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), 50l or more capacity but not exceeding 300l (731010): proximity 0.04 to current capabilities, complexity PCI +1.39, world market $1.7bn. Ranked by density × complexity (product space 2024). See product →