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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Mauritania
Index
The structure of Mauritania's imports since independence has
reflected the country's growing dependence on foreign food,
merchandise, and energy products. As domestic production of
grains fell because of neglect and drought, the nation's reliance
on commercially imported food grew. Between 1973 and 1986,
commercial imports of grains and other foodstuffs, such as sugar
and tea, averaged about 31 percent of all domestically financed
imports. Ironically, in the periods of the worst drought,
commercial food imports fell as Mauritania received free food
assistance from the United States and Western Europe.
Other important domestically financed imports included
petroleum products, construction materials, and transportation
equipment. The values of these items and their percentage of
total imports varied greatly from year to year, depending on such
factors as development project requirements and military-related
needs. A significant portion of imports were financed by foreign
sources, often as components of development schemes or as
emergency aid in times of drought. Between 1973 and 1986, imports
directly financed abroad averaged over 20 percent of total
imports.
Data as of June 1988
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