Economy Type
**Minerals–Fisheries–Emerging Gas Economy
(Mineral and fisheries-based emerging gas economy)**
Mauritania is classified as a Mineral–Fisheries–Emerging Gas Economy country.
The Mauritanian economy relies heavily on the export of iron ore, gold, copper, and seafood, and began transitioning into a maritime LNG exporter starting in 2025. Its strengths include Atlantic coastal ports, a vast territory, and a location connecting the Sahel and North Africa, but industrial diversification, power and logistics, poverty, climate, and institutional capacity remain major challenges.
The IMF estimates that growth will slow to about 4.2% in 2025 due to a contraction in the mining sector following high growth in 2024, and forecasts growth of about 4.4% in 2026. Non-mining activities, infrastructure, and private investment are assessed to support medium-term growth.
Country Definition
Mauritania is an Atlantic Sahel resource economy where LNG is being added as a new growth axis to iron ore, gold, and fisheries resources, but it continues to rely on resource exports and has low industrial-employment linkages.
Why It Matters
Mauritania is a major iron ore producer and exporter in Africa, with gold and seafood being key sources of foreign exchange earnings. In 2024, gold accounted for 35.9% of merchandise exports, iron ore 28.3%, frozen octopus 9.2%, and copper ore 5.0%. The total value of merchandise exports was approximately $4.15 billion.
In addition, Mauritania became an LNG exporting country as the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim offshore gas project, jointly developed with Senegal, produced its first LNG in February 2025 and exported its first cargo in April. This project is a strategic initiative that can transform the structure of future energy exports, domestic power generation, and industrial investment.
Korea Perspective
For South Korea, Mauritania is a country with greater potential for long-term cooperation in the fields of LNG, fisheries, mining equipment, ports and railways, solar power and green hydrogen, and food processing than in iron ore, copper, and gold.
Korean companies are better suited to the following linked approach rather than simple resource purchasing.
- LNG and Gas Power Generation and Storage
- Mining Automation, Safety, and Transportation Equipment
- Railway, port, and logistics infrastructure
- Seafood processing, refrigeration, and freezing
- Solar power and desalination
- Fertilizer and Green Hydrogen Demonstration
- Technical training and on-site maintenance system
Key Keywords
- Iron Ore
- Gold
- Copper
- LNG
- Fisheries
- Nouadhibou
- Atlantic Gateway
- Sahel
- Renewable Energy
- Economic Diversification
Mauritania is located on the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa and shares borders with Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. The capital is Nouakchott, and the major industrial port is Nouadibou.
The political system is a presidential republic, and it possesses a complex national identity at the intersection of the Arab world and Sub-Saharan Africa. Arabic is the official language, and French is also widely used in administration and business.
The population is approximately 4.7 million, and most of the country is desert. Population and economic activity are concentrated in Nouakchott, Nouadibou, and the Senegal River basin. The IMF projects the population to reach approximately 4.73 million by 2026.
Key Features
- Atlantic coastal Sahel countries
- Iron ore, gold, and fisheries-centered economy
- New entry into LNG exporting countries
- Low population density and vast territory
- Location connecting the Arab world and West Africa
- High youth employment and poverty challenges
The Mauritanian economy is centered on mining, fisheries, livestock, agriculture, construction, transportation, public services, and distribution.
The World Bank estimated the growth rate for 2024 at approximately 5.2%, citing a slowdown in mining production and weakening public spending as factors that lowered the figure compared to the previous year. The IMF projected a growth rate of 6.3% for 2024 based on different calculation standards, but estimated that it slowed to 4.2% in 2025 due to a contraction in the mining sector. Since the differences in figures between institutions stem from variations in statistical standards and estimation timelines, they should be interpreted based on their directional nature.
Although economic growth is relatively robust, structural problems include the limited job creation capacity of the resource industry and a labor market participation rate of less than 50%. The World Bank identifies diversification in the agriculture, fisheries, energy, and digital sectors as key tasks.
Market characteristics
- Dependence on resource exports and public investment
- Low purchasing power relative to the population
- central market of the capital and port city
- The informal economy accounts for a large portion.
- Imported products are highly price-sensitive
- Significant influence on projects and government procurement
MarketHub Point
Mauritania should be approached through the mining, gas, fisheries, energy, and infrastructure project markets rather than the general consumer goods market.
Mauritania's key industries are iron ore, gold, copper, LNG, fisheries, and livestock farming.
Iron ore is exported via a dedicated railway connecting Noudibouhang and inland mines. In 2024, iron ore exports amounted to approximately $1.17 billion, with China being the largest buyer.
Gold is the largest single export, and copper mines are also an important source of foreign exchange. However, due to high dependence on specific mines and international prices, a decrease in production directly affects the national growth rate and public finances.
The fisheries industry focuses on octopus, frozen fish, and tuna, exporting to European and Asian markets. Although marine resources are abundant, the high proportion of raw material exports necessitates advancements in refrigeration, processing, packaging, and traceability.
GTA LNG is a new industrial axis. With the first LNG export in 2025, natural gas has begun to be incorporated into the national export structure, and if it leads to the supply of domestic electricity and industrial gas in the future, the effect of industrial diversification could be significant.
Key industries
- ironstone
- Gold and copper mining
- LNG and natural gas
- Fisheries and fishery processing
- Livestock and leather
- Ports and railways
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Solar power and green hydrogen
Key Competitive Resources
- large iron ore deposits
- Gold and copper mineral-based
- 풍부한 대서양 수산자원
- 해상 천연가스
- 높은 태양광·풍력 잠재력
- 유럽과 가까운 대서양 위치
MarketHub Point
모리타니의 산업전환 핵심은 원광·원어 수출에서 가스발전, 광물가공, 수산가공과 저탄소 에너지산업으로 확장하는 것이다.
모리타니의 상품수출은 금, 철광석, 수산물과 구리광에 집중되어 있다. 2024년 상위 4개 품목이 전체 상품수출의 약 78%를 차지해 수출구조가 매우 집중적이다.
수입은 기계, 차량, 석유제품, 식품, 전기전자, 의약품과 건축자재가 중심이다. 세계은행 WITS 자료에서는 상품수입이 상품수출을 상회해 무역적자가 발생한 것으로 나타난다.
물류거점은 누아디부항과 누악쇼트항이다. 누아디부는 광물·수산 수출의 중심이며, 누악쇼트는 소비재와 프로젝트 화물의 주요 관문이다. 내륙도로와 철도망은 제한적이어서 광산·농촌·국경지역 운송비가 높다.
주요 교역국
- 중국
- 스위스
- 스페인
- 일본
- 이탈리아
- 프랑스
- 아랍에미리트
- 알제리
- 세네갈
공급망 특징
- 금·철광석·수산 중심 수출
- 기계·식품·연료 수입의존
- 누아디부항·누악쇼트항 집중
- 광산철도 중요
- 내륙 운송망 부족
- 해상운임·광물가격 변동에 민감
MarketHub Point
모리타니 공급망의 핵심은 광산과 어장을 항만·철도·냉장망으로 연결하고, 수출 전 단계에서 부가가치를 높이는 것이다.
모리타니에서는 정부·국영기업·광산회사·에너지기업과 국제개발기관이 주요 발주처다. 사업성 검토 시 계약조건보다 먼저 광업권, 가스계약, 현지 파트너, 세금, 외환, 공공조달과 대금회수 구조를 확인해야 한다.
가스와 광업은 투자규모가 크고 정책영향도 높다. GTA 사업은 세네갈과 공동개발 구조이므로 양국 규제, 생산배분, 환경관리와 국영기업의 역할을 함께 검토해야 한다.
수산·농업·에너지 분야는 대형 자원개발보다 중소규모 한국기업의 참여 가능성이 상대적으로 높다. 특히 장비 납품만으로는 유지보수가 어렵기 때문에 현지 교육·부품·정비망이 필수다.
시장 특징
- 정부·국영기업 영향력이 큼
- 프로젝트형 B2B 시장
- 프랑스어·아랍어 비즈니스 필요
- 현지 네트워크와 행정절차 중요
- 설치·교육·유지보수 요구
- 계약·외환·지급조건 확인 필수
주요 기회
- 광산장비·자동화·안전
- 철도·항만·벌크물류
- LNG·가스발전
- 태양광·ESS
- 수산가공·콜드체인
- 담수화·수처리
- 농기계·관개
- 축산·육류가공
- 디지털 행정·통관
- 그린수소·암모니아 기반시설
주요 리스크
- 자원가격 변동
- 광업·가스 정책변경
- 낮은 행정·집행역량
- 대금회수와 외환위험
- 내륙물류 부족
- 빈곤·고용 불균형
- 기후·가뭄·사막화
- 말리 접경 안보위험
- 환경·사회 갈등
모리타니의 미래는 LNG 수입을 단기 재정확대에 사용하는지, 전력·산업·인적자본과 경제다각화에 투자하는지에 따라 달라질 것이다.
IMF는 인프라 투자와 민간투자를 바탕으로 중기 전망을 긍정적으로 평가하면서도 광업 생산, 글로벌 불확실성과 지역안보를 하방위험으로 제시한다. 2026년 성장률 전망은 약 4.4%다.
세계은행은 장기적으로 광업 외 생산기반을 확대하고 고용을 늘리기 위해 농업, 수산, 에너지와 디지털산업의 발전이 필요하다고 강조한다.
GTA LNG가 안정적으로 운영되고 국내 가스발전과 산업용 에너지로 연결되면 전력비와 제조기반 개선에 도움이 될 수 있다. 반대로 수익배분·환경·계약투명성 문제가 확대되면 자원경제의 기존 한계를 반복할 가능성도 있다.
향후 주목할 변화
- GTA LNG 생산 안정화
- 국내 가스발전 공급
- 철광석·금 생산 추이
- 수산자원 관리와 가공
- 항만·철도 확충
- 그린수소 프로젝트
- 광업·가스 수익관리
- 청년고용·기술교육
- 사헬 안보와 국경물류
Market Position
Atlantic Mineral–LNG Base + Sahel Resource Gateway
철광석·금·수산과 신규 LNG를 기반으로 대서양과 사헬을 연결하는 자원·에너지 관문시장
Key Opportunities
- 광산장비·안전
- 벌크항만·철도
- LNG·가스발전
- 태양광·ESS
- 수산가공·콜드체인
- 담수화
- 농축산 가공
- 디지털 통관
- 그린수소 기반시설
Recommended Strategy
Select
광업·가스·수산·에너지 가운데 한국 기업의 경쟁력이 있는 분야를 선별한다.
↓
Secure
정부승인, 금융, 지급보증, 현지 파트너와 항만·운송조건을 확보한다.
↓
Integrate
장비만 수출하지 않고 전력·물류·정비·교육·가공을 함께 설계한다.
↓
Localize
현지고용, 기술이전, 가공과 지역사회 편익을 사업구조에 포함한다.
Final Assessment
모리타니는 단순 원자재 구매처가 아니라 광물·LNG·수산과 항만·에너지·가공산업을 결합해야 가치가 커지는 대서양 사헬 프로젝트시장이다.
조사 범위
본 자료는 국제기구, WTO, 세계은행과 에너지·무역·산업 관련 최신 자료를 교차 검토하여 작성하였다.
국제기구
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
- African Development Bank
- International Trade Centre
- United Nations
정부 및 공공기관
- Government of Mauritania
- Central Bank of Mauritania
- National Statistics Agency
- Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
- Ministry of Mines and Industry
- Ministry of Fisheries
- SNIM
- Port of Nouadhibou
- Port of Nouakchott
- KOTRA
주요 조사자료
- IMF Mauritania Program Review 2026
- IMF Mauritania Country Data 2026
- World Bank Mauritania Economic Update 2025
- World Bank Country Partnership Framework 2025
- WTO Mauritania Trade Profile 2024
- BP·Kosmos GTA LNG Project Information
- World Bank WITS Trade Data
Writing Verification
본 문서는 다음 원칙에 따라 작성하였다.
- 2024 실적과 2025·2026 전망을 구분
- IMF와 세계은행 성장률 차이를 명시
- Confirmed export items and proportions using WTO data
- Verify the timing of GTA's first LNG production and export using business data
- Distinguishing between the mining, fisheries, gas, and non-mining economies
- Include port, rail, and inland logistics risks in supply chain analysis
- Application of South Korea's Energy, Mining, Fisheries, and Infrastructure Perspectives
- Apply MarketHub Country Intelligence standard template
Mauritania is an Atlantic Sahel resource economy that has grown based on iron ore, gold, copper, and fisheries resources. With the start of LNG exports in 2025, its resource structure is expanding from a focus on minerals and fisheries to include gas and energy.
However, exports are concentrated on a few raw materials, and declines in mining production and fluctuations in international prices directly affect the growth rate, foreign exchange, and fiscal balance. The link between the resource industry and domestic employment and manufacturing also remains weak.
South Korea should approach Mauritania not merely as a supplier of raw materials, but as a long-term project market capable of combining mining equipment, railways and ports, LNG and gas power generation, solar power, fisheries processing, desalination, and green hydrogen.
In particular, resource development can lead to sustainable cooperation only if local processing, technical training, long-term maintenance, and local employment are included in the project.
Final evaluation
Mauritania is a 'mineral and fisheries-based emerging gas economy' where LNG is combined with iron ore, gold, and fisheries as a new growth axis.
MarketHub classifies Mauritania not merely as a resource exporting country, but as an Atlantic Sahel resource and energy gateway market where market value increases only when mineral, gas, fisheries, ports, and energy infrastructure are integrated .