Forestry is the second main economic resource after oil, as well as the country’s main employer. It will only be 0.4% of GDP over 2012 and 2013, slightly up from 2011 (0.3%) thanks to increased production and transformation capacity at Rougier Gabon, Olam and the Société nationale des bois du Gabon (SNBG). The exploitation of minerals, especially manganese, is the third area of production with a big impact on foreign trade. Generally speaking, mining’s share in GDP remained at 6.3% in 2011 and 2012. It should show a slight improvement for 2013 (6.5%) when mining of the manganese deposit at Ndjolé begins and production at the Compagnie minière de l’Ogooué (COMILOG) is stepped up.

Farming is still limited, with cash crops, food crops and market gardens around towns developed with the assistance of the Gabonese Development Support Institute. Its contribution in 2012 was at the same level as 2011 (3.8%), with cocoa and coffee production still hardly above their 2002 level (500 tonnes and 200 tonnes each). Similarly, prices received by planters have not changed since 2007, at XAF 650 (CFA francs BEAC) per kilogram of cocoa and XAF 450 per kilogram of coffee, despite rising world prices. The share of the secondary sector in the GDP rose to 8.5% in 2012, compared to 8.3% in 2011. This trend should carry over into 2013, reaching 9.1%, and 9.3% in 2014. Industry, building and public works, electricity and water generate the greatest part of this sector’s contribution (respectively 4.6%, 2.7% and 1.7%). Finally, the tertiary sector, representing 32% of internal activity, is still the second contributor to GDP growth, 27.7% in 2012, up from 2011 (27.0%). This sector was driven by the upgrading of hotels ready to welcome fans to the 2012 ACN and by the spread of mobile phones. There should be an upward trend in 2013, 2014 and 2015, at 29.7%, 30.8% and 31.7% respectively.

In terms of demand, growth, estimated at 5.7% in 2012 and 6.2% in 2013, should be supported by two factors: rising public investment and FDI investment in special economic zones (SEZs) and the bounce back of mining under the impetus of increased demand from big emerging markets. The public-sector contribution to GDP growth could well show a fall, from 3.1% in 2011 to 0.9% in 2012 as a result of the ending of the stadium building programme and cutbacks in the road-improvement programme. The public-sector contribution to GDP growth in 2012 rose (0.7%) compared to 2011 (-0.1%). It should grow in 2013 to 1.2% and in 2014 to 1.7%, as a result of the three-year recruitment of defence and security personnel, which has been taking place since 2009. Contrary to forecasts, private consumption grew in 2012 (5.3%) compared to 2011 (2.9%), under the redistributive effect of income from works undertaken for the ACN. But it will fall in 2013 (3.4%) as the first phase of these works is completed.

Exports fell slightly in 2012 for several reasons. Marginal oil fields became depleted, production at the new Ndjolé mine belonging to the Compagnie industrielle et commerciale des mines de Huazhou (CICMHZ) fell, the bringing into production of ore from Franceville by BHP Billiton was delayed (initially forecast at 250 000 tonnes in 2012), while COMILOG kept to its initial forecast (3.75 million tonnes for 2012). In general terms, the trade balance has a structural surplus, with an import-cover ratio above 150%. The current value of exports easily made up for the purchase of equipment following the dynamic public and private investments in recent years. Thanks to the high price of oil on the world market, Gabon enjoyed exceptional oil income. In 2012 it represented over 80% of export income, 48% of GDP and 50% of fiscal income.