MONROVIA – The Director General of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Richard Ngafuan, has revealed that rice is no longer the country’s highest import commodity, as petroleum products have overtaken the staple food in monetary value. Ngafuan made the disclosure on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, during an appearance on the Punch Breakfast Show aired live on PUNCH TV.
“Do you know that rice is not the highest import commodity in Liberia as of 2024?” Ngafuan asked rhetorically, before providing figures to support his claim. He explained that by the end of 2024, Liberia had imported petroleum products valued at over US$382 million, while rice imports stood at just above US$167 million.
The LISGIS Director also disclosed that Liberia exported more than US$895 million worth of gold and over US$164 million in rubber during the same period. These statistics underscore a shifting pattern in the country’s trade dynamics, with fuel overtaking food as the most significant import by value.
Ngafuan’s comments come as economic observers and policymakers continue to assess Liberia’s reliance on imported commodities amid ongoing concerns about food security and inflation. Despite being the nation’s staple food, rice lags significantly behind petroleum in import spending, raising further questions about the country’s energy needs and consumption levels.
LISGIS, the agency Ngafuan heads, plays a central role in collecting and analyzing data vital for national planning and development. Established through legislation approved by the National Transitional Government of Liberia in 2004, LISGIS is tasked with developing and maintaining a comprehensive National Statistical and Spatial Data System. Its mission includes providing accurate, timely, and gender-sensitive data for use by government institutions, businesses, and the broader national and international community.
Ngafuan emphasized that LISGIS remains committed to ensuring that statistical information continues to guide informed decision-making across the country.
