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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Mauritania
Index
Since independence, Mauritania's main exports have been iron
ore and fish. Between 1963 and 1980, iron ore exports were
clearly most important, averaging 80 percent of the value of
total exports. By the mid-1980s, however, fish exports had
outstripped iron ore exports. Between 1980 and 1986, the value of
fish exports rose to 59 percent of total exports; in 1983 fishing
replaced iron ore as the major foreign exchange earner. During
the same period, iron ore exports fell to around 40 percent of
total exports. This circumstance did not reflect a significant
decline in iron ore production, but rather a change in the way
fish catches were recorded.
Data as of June 1988
Located between the rich civilizations of Sudanic Black
Africa and Arab North Africa, Mauritania was historically a
crossroads for trade. In modern times, the trans-Saharan trade--
based on the exchange of gold, slaves, and salt--was superseded
by trade with Senegal, Mali, and France. Mauritania's chief
export during colonial times was gum arabic. Since independence,
however, there has been a radical shift toward the export of
mineral raw materials and the import of food, petroleum, and
manufactured goods.
Exports
Since independence, Mauritania's main exports have been iron
ore and fish. Between 1963 and 1980, iron ore exports were
clearly most important, averaging 80 percent of the value of
total exports. By the mid-1980s, however, fish exports had
outstripped iron ore exports. Between 1980 and 1986, the value of
fish exports rose to 59 percent of total exports; in 1983 fishing
replaced iron ore as the major foreign exchange earner. During
the same period, iron ore exports fell to around 40 percent of
total exports. This circumstance did not reflect a significant
decline in iron ore production, but rather a change in the way
fish catches were recorded.
Data as of June 1988
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