Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa · 3 port guides

In 2025 the United States exported $223.8 million of goods to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and imported $1.9 billion from there. The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked 122nd among US export markets and 74th among sources of US imports.

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3 ports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$223.8MUp 2.7% on 2024 ($218.0 million)
US imports, 2025
$1.9BUp 496.5% on 2024 ($323.2 million)
Goods balance
$1.7BUS deficit
Export market rank
122ndAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
74thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Meat (chapter 02) led US exports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo at $61.1 million, 27% of the total. The top three chapters made up 51%.

  1. 02Meat$61.1 million27.3%
  2. 11Flour, malt and starches$37.1 million16.6%
  3. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$15.6 million7.0%
  4. 21Miscellaneous food preparations$15.1 million6.8%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$14.1 million6.3%

US imports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Copper (chapter 74) led US imports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at $1.8 billion, 93% of the total. The top three chapters made up 99%.

  1. 74Copper$1.8 billion92.9%
  2. 27Mineral fuels and oils$99.7 million5.2%
  3. 97Works of art and antiques$10.9 million0.6%
  4. 80Tin$10.6 million0.5%
  5. 44Wood and wood products$10.5 million0.5%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents the Democratic Republic of the Congo requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Exports through the port, 2025
$13.1M5.8% of the US total with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Leading export goods
Fats and oilsHS chapter 15, $5.0 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$91.9M4.8% of the US total with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Leading import goods
CopperHS chapter 74, $83.1 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

3 ports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Matadi records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 12 m.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.