Why does Burkina Faso import petroleum and machinery?

Burkina Faso imports petroleum, machinery, and other goods because its domestic production is insufficient to meet the requirements for national development. The country faces a deficit in its balance of payments because the value of its exports—primarily cotton, gold, and livestock—is not high enough to offset the cost of these essential imports.1

Essentially, the nation must purchase these materials from abroad, including from France, China, and various African neighbors, to support its economic growth and infrastructure needs.1