Monrovia, Liberia – August 1, 2025 – In a bold move to revitalize Liberia’s rubber industry and accelerate domestic industrialization, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has signed Executive Order No. 151, placing immediate restrictions on the export of unprocessed rubber and laying the foundation for a value-added economy.
Announced today from the Executive Mansion, the Order marks a major policy shift designed to transition the nation’s rubber sector from raw material exports to local manufacturing and processing. It is a strategic effort to increase employment, raise national revenues, and support long-term economic transformation.
“For too long, Liberia has exported its rubber in raw form, forfeiting opportunities for domestic manufacturing, job creation, and increased revenue,” President Boakai said. “This Executive Order is a turning point. We are laying the groundwork for industrialization, value addition, and long-term economic transformation.”
Key Highlights of Executive Order No. 151:
- Export Restrictions: The export of unprocessed rubber—including natural latex, cup lump, bark scrap, and other forms listed under Schedule A—is now restricted. Only processed rubber such as Technically Specified Rubber (TSR) may be exported.
- Fiscal Obligations: Exporters must now meet new tax and fee requirements including a 4% presumptive tax, Rubber Development Fund Incorporated (RDFI) fees, and a $150 per metric ton surcharge.
- Export Permit Requirements: Exporters must obtain an Export Permit Declaration (EPD) by presenting official tax and fee receipts, a valid tax clearance, and receiving prior approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Post-Export Taxation: Exporters are mandated to remit an Advance Income Tax—4% for small taxpayers and 2% for medium and large taxpayers—immediately after shipment.
- Penalties for Violations: Companies that falsify documents or fail to comply with the Order face a $50,000 fine for the first offense. Repeat violators may face additional penalties, including revocation of export privileges.
The Ministry of Agriculture will lead the enforcement of the Executive Order, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Rubber Development Fund Incorporated. Joint administrative guidelines will soon be issued to facilitate a smooth transition.
This policy forms part of President Boakai’s broader agenda to drive economic self-reliance, improve export competitiveness, and create sustainable livelihoods for Liberians through industrialization and local value chains.
