COTONOU - China ranks as ninth importer and fourth exporter country of Benin during the fourth quarter 2016, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) said in its quarterly review issued on Sunday.

During the considered period, China imported over 1,149 tons of goods valued 5.7 billion CFA Francs ($9.2 million) from Benin but exported 30,099 tons of goods valued 87 billion CFA Francs ($141 million) to the West African country.

Globally, Benin's exportations during the period amounted to 29.7 billion CFA Francs ($48 million) in quarter-to-quarter decrease of 29 percent compared to 42.3 billion CFA Francs ($68.5 million) in the third quarter 2016.

"It's an annual decrease of 60.6 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year," the quarterly review said.

Meanwhile, the total imports during the period under review amounts to 409 billion CFA Francs ($661 million) representing quarter-to-quarter increase of 25 percent compared to 320 billion CFA Francs ($517 million) in the third quarter 2016.

But it stands as 2.5 percent annual increase when compared to the importations during the fourth quarter 2015.

The 10 major imported products valued 303.8 billion CFA Francs ($491 million) which represent 74 percent of the total importations.