Economy Type
Oil, Livestock & Development Economy
Chad is classified as an Oil, Livestock & Development Economy country.
This is because while the national budget and exports are centered on crude oil, the livelihoods and employment of the majority of the population depend on agriculture and livestock farming, and the sectors of electricity, water, roads, health, and food rely heavily on international development projects.
The IMF assesses that Chad is facing significant fiscal and balance of payments pressures due to oil price fluctuations, climate and security shocks, and the influx of Sudanese refugees. The African Development Bank analyzes that while growth in 2025 was supported by an agricultural recovery, dependence on oil and structural vulnerabilities will persist.
Country Definition
Chad is a landlocked Sahel country that sustains its finances through crude oil exports while transitioning to agriculture, livestock, solar power, and basic infrastructure as its new growth base.
Why It Matters
Chad is a major oil-producing country in Central Africa, exporting crude oil produced at the Doba oil field through a pipeline connected to an offshore terminal near Krivi, Cameroon.
However, the stability of oil imports is weakening due to reduced production from existing oil fields and fluctuations in international oil prices. The IMF analyzes that a decline in oil prices between 2025 and 2029 could result in a significant additional burden on oil imports and government finances.
On the other hand, Chad possesses a vast territory connecting the Sahel and Central Africa, a large-scale livestock base, agricultural land, and strong solar power potential. Agricultural recovery supported economic growth in 2025 and contributed to food price stability.
Chad's strategic value comes from the next transition.
Crude oil exporting countries
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Livestock, cotton, and grain producing countries
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Expansion of solar power, food processing, and logistics infrastructure
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Inland Sahel market connecting Cameroon, Nigeria, and Sudan
Korea Perspective
For South Korea, Chad is significant as a development cooperation and project market centered on oil facilities, agriculture, livestock processing, solar power, water management, health, roads, and logistics, rather than a general consumer market.
Korean companies can consider cooperation in the following areas.
- Oil field and pipeline maintenance
- Agricultural machinery and irrigation
- Livestock, Meat Processing, Leather Processing
- Cotton and grain processing
- Solar power and energy storage systems
- independent power grid
- Water purification, groundwater, and sanitation facilities
- Medical devices and cold chain
- Roads, warehouses, and customs clearance
- e-government and financial management system
However, oil prices, foreign exchange and fiscal matters, Sudan's border security, refugee influx, and inland logistics costs must be considered together. The IMF assesses that humanitarian, climate, and security shocks are significantly increasing the fiscal and social service burdens on Chad.
Key Keywords
- Oil, Livestock & Development Economy
- Crude Oil
- Livestock
- Cotton
- Agriculture
- Solar Energy
- Sahel
- Landlocked Economy
- Cameroon Pipeline
- Development Project Market
Chad is a landlocked country in the Sahel and Central Africa, bordering Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.
The economy is centered on crude oil, agriculture, livestock, distribution, transportation, and public services. The World Bank explains that poverty and vulnerability are widespread, and that the proportion of the population below the national poverty line was 44.8% in 2022.
There are significant differences in growth rate estimates for 2025 among institutions. The World Bank projected growth in the 5% range, reflecting a recovery in agriculture and the non-oil sector, while the African Development Bank assessed it at 3.4%. This demonstrates that forecasts can vary significantly depending on oil production, agricultural performance, and statistical capabilities.
Key Features
- Major oil-producing countries in Central Africa
- Agricultural and livestock-centered livestock economy
- landlocked countries in the Sahel and Central Africa
- Reliance on Cameroon crude oil pipeline
- High poverty and vulnerability
- Impact of the Sudan Conflict and Refugee Influx
- Lack of power, road, and water infrastructure
- Climate, Flood, and Drought Risks
The Chadian economy has a dual structure in which oil exports support national finances and foreign exchange earnings, while agriculture and livestock farming support employment and the livelihoods of the people.
In 2024, floods and a decline in oil production weighed on growth, but in 2025, a recovery in agricultural production and activity in the non-oil sector supported the economy. The IMF assesses that while growth in the non-oil sector was stronger than expected, oil prices and a decline in aid remain risk factors for fiscal and balance of payments.
The private consumer market has limited purchasing power, making demand from governments, state-owned enterprises, international development banks, and humanitarian organizations crucial. Continuous project demand is expected in the sectors of agriculture, food security, solar power, water and sanitation, health, and roads.
Market characteristics
- Oil and government finance-centered
- Agriculture and livestock livelihood economy
- Low purchasing power and high poverty
- High demand for development finance and humanitarian aid
- Power, Roads, and Water Shortages
- Inland logistics cost burden
- sensitive to oil prices and climate
MarketHub Point
It is appropriate to approach Chad as a B2B and B2G project market centered on oil facilities, agriculture and livestock, power, water management, health, and public infrastructure, rather than the general consumer market.
Crude oil is Chad's core export industry and a source of fiscal revenue. However, as the national economy is heavily dependent on existing oil field production and fluctuations in international oil prices, the expansion of non-oil industries is essential.
In agriculture, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, peanuts, sesame, and gum arabic are important. Livestock farming, centered on cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, accounts for a large share of the rural economy and border trade.
차드는 광대한 일사량과 낮은 전력접근성을 동시에 가지고 있어 태양광·분산형 전력의 잠재력이 크다. 세계은행과 개발기관은 전력접근성, 기후회복력과 농촌생산성 향상을 국가개발의 주요 조건으로 제시한다.
핵심 산업
- 원유
- 축산
- 면화
- 곡물·농업
- 아라비아검
- 식품가공
- 가죽·육가공
- 건설
- 유통·운송
- 태양광
- 공공서비스
핵심 자원
- 원유
- 축산자원
- 농업용 토지
- 면화
- 아라비아검
- 금·우라늄 등 광물 잠재력
- 태양광 자원
- 사헬 내륙시장
MarketHub Point
차드의 핵심 경쟁력은 원유수입을 농축산업·에너지·인프라와 지역시장 형성에 전환할 수 있는가에 있다.
차드는 원유, 가축, 면화, 아라비아검과 일부 농산물을 수출하고, 연료, 식품, 기계, 자동차, 의약품과 건설자재를 수입한다.
원유는 도바 유전에서 카메룬을 통과하는 파이프라인으로 수출된다. 일반 상품무역은 카메룬 두알라항과 은자메나를 연결하는 육상회랑에 크게 의존한다.
차드호 주변에서는 나이지리아·카메룬·니제르와 농축산물·소비재 국경무역이 이루어지고, 동부지역은 수단과 연결되지만 분쟁과 국경통제가 공급망 안정성을 약화시킨다.
차드의 공급망은 다음 구조로 이해할 수 있다.
유전·농업·축산 생산지역
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은자메나·문두 등 집하·유통망
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카메룬 파이프라인·두알라 육상회랑
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대서양 항만·CEMAC·글로벌 시장
주요 교역국
- 카메룬
- 중국
- 프랑스
- 아랍에미리트
- 인도
- 나이지리아
- 수단
- 기타 CEMAC 국가
주요 수출품
- 원유
- 가축
- 면화
- 아라비아검
- 참깨
- 일부 금·농산물
주요 수입품
- 석유제품
- 식품
- 기계·산업설비
- 자동차
- 의약품
- 전기전자제품
- 건설자재
공급망 특징
- 카메룬 원유 파이프라인 의존
- 두알라항 중심 수입물류
- 높은 내륙 운송비
- 도로·통관·검문 지연
- 차드호 국경무역
- 수단 분쟁 영향
- 연료·식품 수입의존
- CEMAC 공동통화·시장 활용
MarketHub Point
차드의 공급망 경쟁력은 원유·농축산물을 카메룬 파이프라인과 두알라 회랑에 안정적으로 연결하고, 차드호·CEMAC 지역무역을 활성화하는 데 있다.
차드는 일반 소비시장보다 석유설비·농축산 가공·태양광·물관리·보건·교통 인프라 중심의 B2B·B2G 프로젝트 시장으로 접근하는 것이 적절하다.
2025년 경제는 농업과 비석유 부문의 회복으로 성장했지만, 석유수입 감소와 개발원조 축소 가능성은 재정에 부담을 주고 있다. IMF는 향후 유가 하락 시 2025~2029년 석유수입과 재정여력이 크게 약화될 수 있다고 분석한다.
따라서 한국 기업은 대규모 직접투자보다 정부·국영기업·국제개발기관과 연계해 설비, 운영교육, 유지관리와 금융을 결합한 사업방식을 우선 검토하는 것이 현실적이다.
시장 특징
- 석유·정부조달 중심
- 농축산·식량안보 수요 큼
- 국제개발·인도주의 사업 중요
- 낮은 전력·물·교통 접근성
- 현지 운영·유지관리 역량 필요
주요 기회
- 유전·파이프라인 유지관리
- 농업기계·관개
- 축산·육가공·가죽가공
- 면화·곡물 저장·가공
- 태양광·ESS
- 독립형 전력망
- 정수·위생시설
- 의료기기·콜드체인
주요 리스크
- 유가·원유생산 변동
- 수단 분쟁·난민 유입
- 재정·외환 취약성
- 내륙 물류비와 통관지연
- 기후·홍수·가뭄
- 행정·계약이행 위험
차드의 미래 경쟁력은 석유수입을 농업·축산·전력·물류와 인적자본 투자로 전환할 수 있는가에 달려 있다.
IMF는 2026년 실질 GDP 성장률을 5.2%로 전망하며, 세계은행은 2025년 성장률을 5.6%로 추정한다. 농업 생산 회복과 비석유 경제가 성장을 지지하지만, 석유가격과 생산량, 외부지원에 대한 높은 의존도는 계속된다.
IMF의 2025년 확대신용공여 프로그램은 비석유 세입 확대, 재정관리와 사회·개발지출 보호를 핵심 과제로 설정했다. 중장기적으로는 태양광, 농업생산성, 축산가공, 도로와 지역교역망이 산업다각화의 주요 축이 될 가능성이 높다.
향후 주목할 변화
- 원유생산·국제유가
- 비석유 세입 확대
- 농업·축산 생산성
- 태양광·전력망 투자
- 식량 저장·가공시설
- 수단 난민·국경안보
- 두알라 물류회랑
- 재정·공공투자 관리
Market Position
Restricted Development Market + Sahel Oil–Agro Transition Node
석유재정을 기반으로 농축산·에너지·기초 인프라 전환을 추진하지만 높은 국가위험을 가진 사헬 내륙 프로젝트 시장
Key Opportunities
- 석유설비
- 농업기계
- 축산·육가공
- 면화·식품가공
- 태양광·ESS
- 독립형 전력
- 물관리·위생
- 의료·콜드체인
- 도로·물류
- 공공재정 디지털화
Recommended Strategy
Observe
원유생산, 국제유가, 재정상황, 수단 국경안보와 국제개발기관의 발주계획을 지속적으로 모니터링한다.
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Prepare
정부·국영기업·개발금융기관·현지 파트너를 중심으로 보안, 물류, 대금결제, 운영교육과 유지관리 체계를 마련한다.
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Participate
태양광, 농업·축산가공, 물·보건과 소규모 물류 프로젝트부터 참여하고, 안정성이 확인되면 석유설비와 대형 인프라 분야로 확대한다.
Final Assessment
차드는 석유와 농축산 자원을 보유했지만 높은 기후·안보·재정 위험이 존재하므로, 대규모 민간투자보다 공공·개발금융 기반의 단계적 프로젝트 중심으로 접근해야 하는 시장이다.
조사 범위
본 자료는 국제기구, 개발금융기관, 차드 관련 정부·산업자료를 교차 검토하여 작성하였다.
국제기구
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- African Development Bank
- World Trade Organization
- CEMAC
- World Food Programme
정부 및 공공기관
- Government of Chad
- Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economy
- Ministry of Petroleum, Mines and Geology
- Ministry of Agricultural Production
- National Institute of Statistics
- Bank of Central African States
- KOTRA
- Korea Export-Import Bank Overseas Economic Research Institute
- Korea Institute for International Economic Policy
Research and industrial data
- IMF Chad 2024 Article IV Consultation
- IMF Chad 2025 Extended Credit Facility data
- World Bank Chad Macro Poverty Outlook
- World Bank Chad Country Partnership Framework 2026–2031
- African Development Bank Chad Economic Outlook
- International Oil, Agriculture, Energy, and Logistics Industry Data
Writing Verification
This document was prepared in accordance with the following principles.
- Research on actual international organizations, development finance, and industry data
- Distinguishing differences in growth rate and price forecasts by institution
- Reflecting oil prices, security, climate, and logistics risks
- Distinction between confirmed facts and prospects
- Application of the perspective on South Korea and MarketHub utilization
- Written based on WCI-001 Golden Template v1.0
- Maintain WCI-001 Part 2 standard quantities
- Check ISO country alphabetical order
Chad is an Oil, Livestock & Development Economy country that must sustain its finances around crude oil while developing agriculture, livestock, solar power, and basic infrastructure as new growth axes .
Future competitiveness depends on shifting oil imports into non-oil revenue, agricultural and livestock processing, power, water, and transportation infrastructure, and jobs.
It is advisable for South Korea to approach Chad as a market for development cooperation projects in the fields of solar power, agriculture and livestock processing, water management, medical and cold chain, and petroleum facility maintenance, rather than as a general consumer market.
Final evaluation
Chad is a landlocked Sahel country with high country risk, possessing oil potential and an agricultural base, and is evaluated as a “Restricted Development Market + Sahel Oil–Agro Transition Node” from a MarketHub perspective.