Liberia Freeport Authority — Institutional Report

Institution Overview

• Institution: Liberia Freeport Authority
• Year: 2,024
• Quarter: Annual
• Expenditure (USD): 17,200,000
• Active Employees: 890
• Workforce Size: 960
• Notes: State-owned port authority managing the Freeport of Monrovia and Liberia's maritime ports. Oversees cargo handling, port concessions, customs facilitation, and harbor operations. A major source of non-tax government revenue.

Expenditure & Workforce Trends

• 2024 (Annual): Expenditure: 17,200,000 USD · Active: 890 · Workforce: 960
• 2023 (Annual): Expenditure: 15,800,000 USD · Active: 860 · Workforce: 930
• 2022 (Annual): Expenditure: 14,500,000 USD · Active: 830 · Workforce: 900
• 2021 (Annual): Expenditure: 13,000,000 USD · Active: 800 · Workforce: 870
• 2020 (Annual): Expenditure: 12,000,000 USD · Active: 780 · Workforce: 850

National Macroeconomic Indicators

| Indicator | Value | Year | Trend | |---|---|---|---| | GDP (Current Prices) | 5.64 USD Billions | 2026 | up | | International Reserves | 2.9 Months of Import Cover | 2026 | up | | Public Debt | 54.6 % of GDP | 2026 | down | | Inflation Rate (CPI) | 8.2 % | 2026 | up | | GDP Growth Rate | 5 % | 2026 | stable | | Fiscal Deficit | 2.7 % of GDP | 2026 | up | | Current Account Deficit | 14.8 % of GDP | 2026 | up | | LRD/USD Exchange Rate | 183.9 LRD per USD | 2026 | up | | Real GDP Growth Rate | 5.5 % | 2026 | up | | Government Expenditure | 916.6 USD Millions | 2025 | up | | Tax Revenue to GDP Ratio | 15.9 % | 2025 | up | | Poverty Rate | 33.6 % | 2025 | up | | Unemployment Rate | 2.9 % | 2025 | stable | | Non-Performing Loans Ratio | 16.2 % | 2025 | stable | | Government Revenue | 880.7 USD Millions | 2025 | up | | FDI Inflows | 520 USD Millions | 2025 | up | | Capital Adequacy Ratio | 35 % | 2025 | stable | | Mining Sector Growth | 17 % | 2025 | up | | Central Bank Policy Rate | 16.25 % | 2025 | down | | Headline Inflation | 8.5 % | 2025 | down | | Gross Domestic Product (Nominal) | 5.25 USD billion | 2025 | up | | Population Growth Rate | 2.1 % | 2025 | stable | | Tax Revenue to GDP | 15.9 % | 2025 | up | | GDP (current US$) | 5.25 USD billion | 2025 | up | | Primary Fiscal Surplus | 1.4 % of GDP | 2025 | up | | Monetary Policy Rate | 16.25 % | 2025 | down | | GDP per Capita | 915.3 USD | 2025 | up | | Inflation Rate | 6 % | 2025 | down | | Real Non-Oil GDP Growth | 4.57 % | 2025 | up | | Total Population | 5,731,206 people | 2025 | up | | Nominal GDP | 5.25 USD billion | 2025 | up | | GDP per capita | 915.3 USD | 2025 | up | | Inflation Rate (Annual Average) | 8.5 % | 2025 | up | | Current Account Deficit to GDP | 14.4 % | 2025 | down | | Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | 5.25 USD billion | 2025 | up | | Public Debt to GDP | 54.6 % | 2025 | down | | Overall Fiscal Deficit to GDP | 1.1 % | 2025 | down | | Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices) | 6 % | 2025 | down |

National Trade Context

• Year: 2,026
• Total Exports (USD): 199.97
• Total Imports (USD): 261.94
• Trade Balance (USD): -61.97
• FDI Inflows (USD): 0
• Remittances (USD): 84.78
• Top Export Commodity: Rubber
• Top Import Commodity: Fuel

Private Sector Context (National)

• Year: 2,024
• Total GDP Contribution (USD M): 545.5
• ArcelorMittal Liberia: 480,000,000 USD revenue · 3,200 employees
• Firestone Natural Rubber: 185,000,000 USD revenue · 6,800 employees
• BRAC Liberia: 12,000,000 USD revenue · 450 employees
• Save the Children Liberia: 8,500,000 USD revenue · 320 employees
• SME Sector Aggregate: 95,000,000 USD revenue · 18,500 employees

Social Programs (National Context)

• Year: 2,024
• Total Programs: 10
• Total Funding (USD): 20,500,000
• Government-Funded (USD): 10,000,000
• Total Beneficiaries: 460,000
• National School Feeding Program: 4,500,000 USD · Montserrado · government
• Urban Cash Transfer Program: 3,200,000 USD · Montserrado · ngo_donor
• Community Health Worker Initiative: 2,100,000 USD · Nimba · ngo_donor
• County Development Fund Projects: 1,800,000 USD · Nimba · government
• Agricultural Inputs Subsidy: 1,500,000 USD · Bong · government
• Rural Education Support: 950,000 USD · Bong · ngo_donor

National Trade Trends (Multi-Year)

• 2023: Exports: 920 · Imports: 1,340 · Balance: -420 · FDI: 312
• 2024: Exports: 1,304 · Imports: 1,728 · Balance: -424 · FDI: 0
• 2025: Exports: 3,180 · Imports: 3,420 · Balance: -240 · FDI: 520
• 2026: Exports: 199.97 · Imports: 261.94 · Balance: -61.97 · FDI: 0
• 2026: Exports: 3,650 · Imports: 4,000 · Balance: -350 · FDI: 560

Economic Analysis & Outlook

The Liberia Freeport Authority has demonstrated consistent fiscal expansion, with expenditures rising steadily from 12.0 million USD in 2020 to 17.2 million USD in 2024. This upward trajectory in operational spending reflects a strategic commitment to enhancing port infrastructure and capacity, which remains vital as Liberia navigates a macroeconomic environment characterized by a projected 5% GDP growth rate and a nominal GDP of 5.64 billion USD by 2026. With 890 active employees out of a workforce of 960, the authority maintains a high operational engagement level, positioning itself as a central pillar in facilitating the nation's trade balance, which currently manages an import-to-export ratio that necessitates efficient port logistics to mitigate the impacts of an 8.2% inflation rate. Sectoral performance is heavily influenced by the robust 17% growth in the mining sector, which serves as a primary driver for throughput demand at the Freeport. As Liberia targets a fiscal deficit of 2.7% of GDP and leverages FDI inflows of 520 million USD, the Authority stands to gain from intensified regional trade integration and modernized customs processing. However, the institutional outlook must account for risks associated with the high current account deficit, reaching 14.8% of GDP, and the persistent non-performing loans ratio of 16.2% across the broader economy, which could constrain private sector liquidity. Looking forward, the Liberia Freeport Authority must prioritize capital-intensive upgrades and digitalization to remain competitive. By aligning operational expenditures with the broader goal of reducing poverty and sustaining the 5.5% real GDP growth trajectory, the Authority acts as a critical enabler of economic stability, provided it can successfully navigate the challenges of currency volatility and the inflationary pressures impacting the overall cost of living.