While it is difficult to get an accurate overview of the extent of informal cross-border trade in SubSaharan
Africa, reviewed surveys suggest that such trade still represents a significant proportion of
regional cross-border trade. In Uganda, for example, informal exports flowing to its five neighbouring
countries were estimated to account for USD 231.7 million in 2006, corresponding to around 86% of
Uganda’s official export flows to these countries. Similarly, informal imports were estimated at USD 80.6
million, corresponding to approximately 19% of official import flows from these countries. Available
surveys indicate that a substantial proportion of informal cross-border trade in the region concerns staple
food commodities (e.g., maize, rice and cattle) and low quality consumer goods (e.g., clothes, shoes and
electronic appliances). It is mainly conducted by individual traders (a large proportion of which are
women) and micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises and often consists of small consignments. Some
of these traders operate entirely outside the formal economy; others are registered domestically yet escape
fully or partially trade-related regulations and duties (e.g., they avoid official border posts or pass through
such posts yet resort to illegal practices such as under-invoicing, misclassification of goods and
misdeclaration of country of origin).