Signature export
Essential oils & fragrance
Ylang-ylang distillation with opportunities in modern stills, quality certification and direct supply to fragrance houses.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationUnion of the Comoros
The perfume islands.
An Indian Ocean archipelago that supplies the majority of the world's ylang-ylang essence and is among the largest producers of vanilla and cloves.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $1.4 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 870,000
- Currency
- Comorian Franc (KMF), pegged to the euro
- Capital
- Moroni
- Economic growth
- ≈ 3.0% real GDP growth
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year data)
Overview
High-value agriculture on volcanic islands
Comoros produces the majority of the world's ylang-ylang essential oil, a base note used by the global perfume industry and one of the highest-value agricultural exports per kilogram anywhere.
Vanilla and cloves complete a trio of premium spice and aroma crops that connect these islands directly to international flavour, fragrance and food companies.
An exclusive economic zone many times the land area gives Comoros substantial tuna and marine resources, largely fished under licence by foreign fleets today.
- Capital
- Moroni
- Population
- ≈ 870,000 (2024)
- Islands
- Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli
- Language
- Comorian, Arabic and French
- Currency
- Comorian Franc (KMF), pegged to the euro
- Signature exports
- Ylang-ylang, vanilla, cloves, fish
- Exclusive economic zone
- ≈ 160,000 km² of Indian Ocean
- Membership
- Arab League, African Union, Indian Ocean Commission
Economy
Aroma crops, fisheries and remittances
A small island economy where premium agricultural exports, fishing licences and diaspora remittances are the principal sources of foreign currency.
0%
Share of world ylang-ylang
The dominant global supplier
$0.4B
GDP (nominal, 2024)
Small island economy
0K km²
Exclusive economic zone
Rich tuna grounds
0%
Remittances share of GDP
A major income source
Ylang-ylang & essential oilsGlobal perfume industry supply
VanillaPremium Indian Ocean origin
ClovesA leading world producer
FisheriesTuna and reef species
TourismSmall but growing
Construction & remittance economyDiaspora-funded building
Priority sectors
Sectors open to international partnership
Where Comorian producers and the government seek investment and buyers.
Premium
Vanilla & spices
Vanilla, cloves and pepper with premium positioning and demand for traceable, certified supply.
Untapped
Fisheries & blue economy
Tuna stocks currently fished largely by licensed foreign fleets, with scope for domestic landing and processing.
Energy
Renewable energy
Solar and geothermal potential on Karthala volcano to replace expensive imported diesel.
Emerging
Tourism & hospitality
Beaches, reefs and volcanic landscapes with very limited hotel capacity today.
Infrastructure
Ports & connectivity
Port and airport upgrades to reduce the cost of inter-island and international trade.
Comoros Emerging 2030
A plan to reach emerging-economy status
The national plan targets infrastructure, energy, tourism and agricultural value addition to lift incomes across the three islands.
- 2018
Emerging Comoros plan
A national development strategy presented to international partners.
- 2020
Energy investment
Solar and grid projects launched to reduce reliance on imported diesel.
- 2023
Fisheries strategy
Efforts to capture more value from tuna resources through domestic landing.
- 2030
Target state
Emerging-economy status with diversified exports and improved infrastructure.
Major development projects
Development priorities
Programmes that would raise export value and reduce costs.
Ylang-ylang value chain
Efficient distillation, quality grading and direct relationships with fragrance houses.
Port of Moroni upgrade
Handling and storage improvements at the principal island gateway.
Solar and grid programme
Utility-scale solar and network upgrades to cut diesel dependence.
Fisheries landing infrastructure
Cold storage and processing to capture value from the exclusive economic zone.
US – Comoros trade
Small volumes, high-value products
Comorian exports reach the United States mainly as ingredients: essential oils for fragrance manufacturers and vanilla and cloves for flavour houses.
Top exports to the world
Ylang-ylang & essential oils
Cloves
Vanilla
Fish & seafood
Top imports
Rice & food staples
Fuel & refined products
Construction materials
Vehicles & equipment
Leading products to the United States
- Ylang-ylang essential oil
- Vanilla
- Cloves
- Spice extracts
Leading products from the United States
- Rice and food commodities
- Machinery and generators
- Vehicles
- Medical supplies
- American fragrance and flavour companies source ylang-ylang and vanilla from Comorian growers
- Very high value per kilogram makes air-freight export economics viable
- Certification and traceability programmes are raising producer prices
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Comoros and the United States, reported from Comoros's perspective.
Latest verified data available
Total U.S. goods trade
$15.0M
2024
Exports to the United States
$5.0M
2024
Imports from the United States
$10.0M
2024
Trade balance
$5.0M
Deficit for Comoros
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Comoros exports to the United States$5.0M
Comoros imports from the United States$10.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Trade volumes are very small. Comoros exports high-value spices and essential oils to the United States and imports machinery, vehicles and food products.
Scope of these figures
Latest verified data available; small-value flows are subject to reporting thresholds. These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- UN Comtrade Database
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Vanilla
- Cloves and spices
- Ylang-ylang essential oils
Leading imports from the United States
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Food products
- Medical supplies
Culture & tourism
Volcanoes, reefs and Swahili-coast heritage
Three volcanic islands with coral reefs, rainforest and centuries-old trading towns.
Grande Comore
Moroni old town
A coral-stone medina and the Old Friday Mosque on the harbour.
Grande Comore
Mount Karthala
One of the world's largest active volcanic craters.
Mohéli
Mohéli Marine Park
Nesting green turtles, dolphins and pristine reefs.
Anjouan
Anjouan waterfalls
Rainforest, ylang-ylang plantations and dramatic waterfalls.
Why invest
Why international buyers work with Comoros
Irreplaceable aroma crops and an under-developed blue economy.
01
Dominant supply position
Most of the world's ylang-ylang originates in these islands.
02
Premium origin story
Vanilla, cloves and essential oils with strong provenance value for consumer brands.
03
Euro-pegged currency
A stable, convertible currency backed by a long-standing peg.
04
Marine resources
A large exclusive economic zone with limited domestic exploitation to date.
At the Expo
Comoros at AAIX 2027
The Comoros pavilion introduces American flavour, fragrance and food buyers to origin producers.
- Ylang-ylang and essential oil buyer meetings
- Vanilla and clove sourcing sessions
- Fisheries and blue-economy investment briefings
- Tourism and hospitality partnership introductions
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Comoros through the Expo.
For American companies
Secure traceable ylang-ylang, vanilla and clove supply, and invest in distillation quality at origin.
For Arab companies
Fisheries, hospitality and food-import logistics across the Indian Ocean corridor.
For international investors
Renewable energy, port upgrades and small-scale tourism development.
Represent Comoros at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Comorian pavilion, or register as an American buyer to source essential oils, vanilla and spices at origin.
Sources & data
- Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (Comoros)
- Banque Centrale des Comores
- FAO and ITC commodity data
- World Bank World Development Indicators
- IMF World Economic Outlook
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Last updated: August 2026