weighted score 5.7 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Gabon
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Gabon-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
5
Trafficking of children from neighbouring countries documented. Forced labour in domestic work and informal sectors. US TIP Report Tier 2 Watch List.
Worker rights & FOA
5
Freedom of association exists in law but enforcement is weak. Military government since August 2023 limits civil society space. Independent unions face practical constraints.
OHS & audit transparency
6
Limited independent audit infrastructure. Occupational health and safety enforcement weak outside the oil sector. International certification bodies have limited presence.
Food & product safety
5
Food safety standards exist but enforcement capacity is limited. EU RASFF alerts for Gabonese products are infrequent due to low food export volumes to the EU.
Environmental & regulatory
7
EUDR high exposure for timber exports. Gabon has 88% forest cover and is a major tropical hardwood source. Deforestation monitoring improving but traceability gaps remain in forestry supply chains.
Governance & anti-corruption
8
TI CPI 2025: 29/100. Military coup August 2023. Gen. Nguema won April 2025 election (94.9%). Bongo family controlled the country for 55 years. Public debt 79% of GDP and rising.
Tariff & preferential access
3
EU EPA access through Central Africa agreement. Preferential tariffs available for qualifying products. Oil exports not subject to significant EU tariff barriers.
Non-tariff barriers
5
EUDR timber due diligence creates compliance burden. FLEGT VPA negotiations with EU ongoing. Rules of origin documentation may be challenging for processed goods.
Supply chain traceability
7
Timber traceability improving through national forest management systems but gaps remain. Manganese supply chains are relatively concentrated (COMILOG/Eramet). Multi-tier opacity in informal sector sourcing.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour risk
- Gabon has documented cases of forced labour in domestic work, agriculture, and the informal sector. Children from neighbouring countries (Benin, Togo, Nigeria) are trafficked into Gabon for domestic servitude and market labour.
- Sectors at elevated risk
- Timber harvesting and processing, domestic work, artisanal mining, market trading. The forestry sector employs significant numbers of migrant workers with limited labour protections.
- ILO conventions
- Gabon has ratified ILO C029 (Forced Labour) and C182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour). Freedom of association rights exist in law but enforcement is weak, particularly in the informal sector.
- Youth unemployment
- Youth unemployment estimated at 36%. High youth unemployment drives informal sector participation where labour standards are poorly enforced.
EU Regulatory Exposure
EU Regulatory Exposure
- EUDR exposure
- Gabon is a significant timber exporter. Tropical hardwoods from Gabon are subject to EUDR due diligence requirements. Gabon banned raw log exports in 2010 to promote local processing, but processed timber products remain a major export to the EU.
- EU EPA access
- Gabon has access to the EU market through the Central Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This provides preferential tariff access for qualifying goods.
- EU Forced Labour Regulation
- Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 applies from December 2027. Timber and agricultural supply chains from Gabon may face scrutiny under Article 5 investigations.
- Governance risk
- TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: 29/100. Military coup in August 2023 ended the Bongo dynasty (55 years in power). Gen. Nguema won April 2025 election with 94.9% of the vote. Institutional independence remains limited under the transitional regime.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Logistics & Supply Chain
- Primary export corridor
- Port-Gentil / Owendo (Libreville) → Gulf of Guinea → West Africa → EU ports
- Key exports
- Crude oil (50%+ of government revenue), manganese (world's 2nd largest producer), timber, palm oil
- Main EU destination ports
- Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Hamburg
- Typical transit time
- 12-18 days to Northwest Europe
- Infrastructure note
- Transgabonais railway connects manganese and timber hinterlands to Owendo port. Road infrastructure outside Libreville is limited, particularly during the rainy season.