weighted score 2.6 · ten dimensions
Sourcing Attractiveness Index · ten dimensions
Comoros
Labour cost, supply base depth, logistics infrastructure, trade access, and innovation scores for Comoros as a sourcing destination.
Labour cost competitiveness
7
Very low wage levels. Labour costs are among the lowest globally. However, extremely small workforce limits practical labour availability.
Supply base depth
1
Effectively no manufacturing supply base. Exports limited to vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang. No industrial ecosystem.
Logistics & infrastructure
2
Basic port facilities. No deep-water terminal. Unreliable power supply. Infrequent shipping connections requiring transshipment via regional hubs.
Workforce skills
2
Limited education infrastructure. Very small workforce (~900,000 population). Technical and professional skills scarce.
Scalability
4
Tiny population constrains any scale ambition. Niche agricultural exports (vanilla, ylang-ylang) cannot scale significantly due to land and labour constraints.
Ease of doing business
2
TI CPI 20. Political instability (20+ coups since 1975). Weak institutional frameworks. Regulatory environment unpredictable. Concentrated executive power.
Trade access & tariffs
3
EU EBA provides duty-free access as LDC. But extremely limited export base and poor logistics infrastructure make preferential access largely theoretical.
Sustainability baseline
2
No ESG reporting infrastructure. Environmental governance minimal. Climate vulnerability high. Smallholder agriculture has low carbon footprint but no certification systems.
Innovation & IP
1
No R&D infrastructure. No patent activity. No technology transfer mechanisms. Innovation ecosystem absent.
Quality standards
2
No quality certification infrastructure. Vanilla and spice quality varies. No ISO-certified facilities. Quality assurance depends entirely on buyer-side inspection.
Key Export Sectors
Key Export Sectors
- Vanilla
- Comoros is one of the world's largest vanilla producers. Vanilla is the most valuable export commodity. Production is smallholder-based with limited processing infrastructure. Quality varies but Comorian vanilla is recognised in the global spice trade.
- Ylang-ylang
- Comoros produces a significant share of global ylang-ylang essential oil, used primarily in the perfume industry. This is a high-value niche product but volumes are small and production is artisanal.
- Cloves
- Clove production and export is a traditional Comorian industry. Like vanilla, production is smallholder-based with limited value-add processing.
Infrastructure & Scale Constraints
Infrastructure & Scale Constraints
- Population
- Approximately 900,000 people across three islands. The tiny population severely limits the available workforce, domestic market, and scale potential for any manufacturing or processing investment.
- Port infrastructure
- Port facilities are basic. No deep-water container terminal. International shipping connections are infrequent and typically require transshipment via larger regional hubs (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, or Reunion).
- Power supply
- Electricity supply is unreliable with frequent outages. Power generation capacity is limited and heavily dependent on imported diesel. This makes any energy-intensive processing unviable.