2. Strategic export platform
Kiribati offers a strategic location between Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, making it a valuable gateway for trade across the Pacific. Through key international and regional agreements, investors benefit from preferential access to major global markets and expanded export opportunities.
With a 3.4 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the 12th largest in the world, Kiribati offers vast untapped potential in fisheries and maritime industries.
Preferential access to regional and global markets
- Preferential market access to over 2.9 billion consumers across 62 countries through key trade agreements. These include the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which provides unilateral, non-reciprocal benefits for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as well as regional free trade agreements PACER Plus and PICTA, enhancing export opportunities and global market reach.
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and Least Developed Countries (LDC): 47 countries grant duty-free and quota-free market access for exports (Armenia, Belarus, Canada, Chile, China, European Union, Iceland, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Taipei, Turkey, United Kingdom and USA.
Pacer Plus-PICTA: Plurilateral free trade agreement between 15 Pacific Island countries (Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu).
Source: MacMap.org
Kiribati’s role in regional and global trade
- Continuous trade dynamics: Despite its trade deficits, Kiribati has shown consistent changes in its international trade, with an average yearly increase* of 9% in imports of 2% and a decrease of -6.9% in exports over the last 5 years.
- Top export destinations: Thailand stand out as single top destination for Kiribati’s exports, accounting over 85% of the flows, followed far bellow by Japan (6.0%) and Philippines (3.0%).
- Leading import providers: China, Australia and Fiji emerge as the top 3 sources of Kiribati’s imports, accounting for nearly 60% of the flows.
*CAGR: Compound annual growth rate. - Source: Observatory of Economy Complexity (www.oec.world/en).
- Concentrated export mix: Non-fillet frozen fish stand out as the single top exported product, accounting for 88.6% of export flows, followed far bellow by Fish fillets (5.6%) and Coconut oil (1.2%). Together the top 3 products represent over 95% of total exports.
- Diverse import portfolio: Wide range of products, with Centrifuges, Passenger & cargo ships, and Other sea vessels standing out as the top 3, accounting for 17% of the import flows.
Source: Observatory of Economy Complexity (www.oec.world/en)
Connecting Kiribati by air to the rest of the world
- Connectivity by air: Despite its remote location, Kiribati is connected with the rest of the South Pacific region with over 8 direct weekly flights to 5 overseas destinations.
- Primary international gateway: Located near Tarawa from capital city, Bonriki International Airport is the main gateway for international travelers to Kiribati. Cassidy International Airport situated on Kiritimati also serves as international airport with lower connectivity.
- Domestic connections: Due to its geographic composition of different islands spread in a vast Pacific Ocean, Kiribati has 19 domestic airfields recognized by IATA and/or ICAO. Air Kiribati is the airline connecting them.
Note: Information only as reference. Air routes and airlines may change due to latest updates - Source: www.flightconnections.com/ - https://www.fluentcargo.com/search
Connecting Kiribati by sea to the rest of the world
- Strategic location: Position in the South Pacific, Port of Betio (Tarawa) is the main cargo gateway connects the island states with the rest of the world. There is also Kiritimati port with lower capacity.
- Shipping network: 3 international shipping companies provide services to 4 direct overseas destinations in the region.
- Key port infrastructure: Port of Betio (Tarawa) is a small port with maximum berthing ship’s length of 200m and anchorage Depth of 7.1m - 9.1m.
Note: Information only as reference. Air routes and airlines may change due to latest updates - Source: https://www.fluentcargo.com/search) - https://www.searates.com/
Kiribati's vast Exclusive Economic Zone
- 12th largest exclusive economic zone in the world, covering 3.4 million km² of marine territory, offering vast untapped potential for commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and ocean-based industries, reinforcing its position as a blue economy frontier.
- Strategic location in the Pacific trade corridor connecting 3 continents (Americas, Asia and Oceania).
- Access to rich biodiversity within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), the world’s largest UNESCO-listed marine reserve.
Source: www.marineregions.org