II. LEADING TRADE PROSPECTS FOR U.S. BUSINESS

Overview of Import Market

Mauritania's imports have increased both in value and in
quantity, passing from USD 404.6 million in 1992 to USD 579.6
million in 1993.  This increase is due primarily to the
liberalization of import and trade controls.  Mauritania imports
a large quantity of food as well as petroleum, vehicles, spare
parts, machinery, clothing, and most manufactured items.  In
1993, Mauritania imported goods worth nearly USD 46.8 million
from the U.S.A., an 8.1 percent share of total Mauritanian
imports in that year.  This percentage allowed the U.S.A. to rank
as Mauritania's third-largest supplier in 1993, after France and
Germany. As a former French colony, Mauritania retains strong
commercial ties with France.  The French maintain a strong
commercial presence through exports credits, loans and economic
assistance.  The proximity of the Canary Islands makes Spain an
important trading partner as well.

Mauritanian imports 1990 - 1993 (in million of US Dols):

                         1990          1991      1992      1993

Total Imports            391.1        423.3     404.6     579.6
U.S. Share of total
   imports (percent)       6.3          5.1      14.4       8.1


Mauritanian imports from major trading partners by value and
percentage of imports (in millions of US Dols) are as follows:

            1990                      1991

Country    Value       P/C     Rank   Value    P/C    Rank

France     150.2      38.4       1    129.6   30.6      1
Belg-Luxemb                            32.2    8.2      2
Germany     29.8       7.6       3     36.2    8.5      3
U.S.A.      24.3       6.3       4     25.9    6.2      5
Spain       23.9       6.2       5     30.4    7.2      4
Algeria     19.8       5.0       6     61.9   14.6      2



           1992                       1993

Country    Value       P/C     Rank   Value    P/C    Rank

France     145.1      35.2       1    186.9   32.4      1
U.S.A       59.4      14.4       2     46.7    8.1      3
Spain       35.2       8.5       3     37.1    5.8      5
Algeria     27.2       6.7       4     44.4    7.6      4
Germany     26.7       6.4       5     47.7    8.2      2


Annual exchange rates used (based on Mauritanian Central Bank
figures) are:

1990: USD 1 to UM  80.09
1991: USD 1 to UM  82.12
1992: USD 1 to UM  85.72
1993: USD 1 to UM 102.20

Sources: National Statistical Office and Mauritanian Customs
Bureau.  This data differs from that published by USDOC and other
international agencies.  The differences are mainly due to
calculation methods used and problems associated with data
collection in Mauritania.  Mauritanian Customs figures include
shipment, insurance, and other costs.

Comments:

A.  In 1993, commercial activity increased considerably, due to
liberalization of import
controls under World Bank and IMF conditionalities.

B.  Mauritanian imports from the USA increased steadily from 1990
to 1992, with a
slight reduction in 1993.


Main products imported from the U.S. In 1993 are:

     - Machinery parts and supplies
     - Vehicles (dump trucks) and spare parts
     - Mining equipment
     - Grain (wheat)
     - Office equipment and supplies
     - Cigarettes
     - Miscellaneous chemical products


During 1993, Mauritania's major import items were:

     - Foodstuffs
     - Fuel
     - Vehicles and equipment
     - Machinery and spare parts
     - Clothing

These items represented about 80 percent of total country imports
in 1993.