Benin: Service revenue rises by 14.6% in Q2

Within the services sector, real estate activities recorded the highest growth, at +37.0% year-on-year. Transportation and storage followed with +34.1%, ahead of accommodation at +5.1% and activities related to human health and social action at +5.7%.

However, the growth is not uniform. The information and communication sector declined by 4.3% during the period, according to INStaD. The revenue index measures the changes in sales made by monitored companies; it does not directly indicate their profits or profitability.

In commerce, the 6.8% increase is primarily driven by the trade and repair of automobiles and motorcycles, which saw a revenue increase of 17.1%. Retail trade grew by 7.3%, while wholesale trade and intermediary activities rose by 2.2%.

One segment is moving against the trend: retail trade in specialized hardware stores, paints, glass, carpets, and floor and wall coverings reported an annual decline of 18.6%.

INStaD produces these indices as part of the harmonized business statistics framework established with the support of UEMOA and AFRISTAT. The series are chained to the base year 2015 to track variations in activity within commerce and other services.