Search Results for "mauritania" in "Mauritania" on Export Portal

Imports

Mauritania is located in North West Africa. It bordered by Senegal to the southwest, Mali to the south and east, Algeria to the northeast, Western Sahara to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The country is divided into four geographical zones. The Saharan zone which accounts for 66% of the country and consists of shifting sand dunes, mountainous plateaux and an occasional oases. The coastal zone which is almost devoid of vegetation. The Sahelian zone with its savannah grasslands and steppes. The Chemama or Senegal River Valley zone which is a narrow belt of land with rich alluvial soil. The only permanent river is the Senegal River with floods often occurring between September and October that cover the whole valley area. Land Use: forested 4%, pastures 38%, agricultural-cultivated 0.5%, desert and other 57.5%. Thus, we see that geographically Mauritania isn't fit to develop a good agricultural structure and is forced to import agricultural products from abroad. The commodities for this country also include equipment, machinery, capital goods, foods, petroleum products, and a variety of consumer goods.  

Mauritania's main import partners are the following countries which import merchandise to Mauritania, are:

• United Arab Emirates 
• France
• Belgium-Luxembourg 
• China
• Netherlands 
• Spain
• United States

According to the International Trade Centre, Mauritania main imports, along with percentage of total imports, are:

1. Mineral fuels, petroleum gas, oils, refined petroleum, distillations products, etc.

2. Concentrated milk, tea, foodstuffs,  palm oil, rice, cereals, dairy products, eggs, honey, wheat, raw sugar, malt extract and edible animal products.

3. Boilers, rubber tires, nuclear reactors, large construction machines, electric generating sets,  construction materials.

4. Vehicles other than railway,  cars, stone processing machines, vehicles,  delivery trucks, lifting machinery, excavation machinery.

5. Light pure woven cotton,  packaged medicaments, woven fabric of synthetic staple fibers.

Customs requirements of Mauritania

Customs Contacts:

Telephone: +222253418

Address: Colonel N'Diaga Dieng, Directeur General des Douanes, Boite Postale 198, Nouakchott, Mauritanie

Mauritania is a country with a small population which is located in the continent/region of Africa.

Countries near Mauritania include Western Sahara, Senegal, Mali and Gambia. Mauritania is rich in mineral resources. It is Africa's second biggest exporter of iron ore, it is a modest oil producer with considerable natural gas deposits and its waters have some of the most abundant fish stocks in the world.

Mauritania does not apply specific commercial policy to the different sectors. Restrictions are few and aim first of all to maintain security, public order and health. The country has little recourse to quantitative barriers and import licenses. Non-tariff barriers are often limited to payment delays applied by local banks to providers.Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports20%, Mauritania remains a country with high custom duty tariffs in comparison with its neighbors. 

Custom procedures have been simplified, custom duty rates rationalized and the majority of non-tariff measures eliminated. The customs nomenclature corresponds to the harmonized system established by the WTO. All products entering the territory are subject to declaration. These are managed by an informatized system, SYDONIA, and treated on the spot by the Customs offices, except for when they are not informatized, in the case of which they are treated again by the General Customs Direction. Imports in the amount exceeding 5000 USD are controlled by the General Surveillance Society (Société Générale de Surveillance, SGS). The applied custom duty tariffs are ad-valorem taxes. 

The evaluation of the value of products is based on transactional value, except for used cars, where the minimal importation value continues to be used. There are three different custom duty rates: normal rate of 20%, minimal rate of 5% applicable to countries benefiting from the Most-favored-nation clause, and a 0% rate applied to certain products, notably those of vital need. Custom duty is progressive according to the level of transformation of the product.       

Together with customs duty, the majority of imported products are subjected to statistical tax of 3%. Some agricultural products are also subjected to seasonal levies.

Exonerations and exemptions of customs duty and importation tax, as well as discounts, are sometimes practiced. 

The following documents required for imports:

-commercial invoice with the name and address of the buyer and the seller, the date and place where it was written, transport means, quantity, description of merchandise and conditions of delivery and payment.

-bill of landing or a certificate of origin

-inspection certificate, delivered by the Société Générale de Surveillance

Importers require an inspection before shipping and a control of quality. An inspection certificate must be provided for all imported goods.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13881985 

http://www.gomapper.com/travel/where-is/mauritania-located.html 

http://www.dhl.com/en/mr/country_profile/import_guidelines_express.html 

http://www.movers.com/international_movers/customs-regulations/mauritania.html 

http://www.sgs.com/~/media/Global/Documents/Technical%20Documents/Technical%20Datasheets/SGS-PSI-MR-%20Datacsheet-A4-EN-12.pdf 

https://en.santandertrade.com/international-shipments/mauritania/customs-and-transportation