Namibia’s trade deficit narrows to N$3.4bil in September
Namibia’s trade position showed notable improvement in September 2025, as the trade deficit shrank to N$3.4 billion, recovering from the N$5.3 billion shortfall recorded in August, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) bulletin.
The improvement signals a gradual strengthening of export performance and a slowdown in imports, though the balance remains negative overall.
According to the report, “this reflects an improvement in the trade balance when compared to a N$5.3 billion deficit recorded in the previous month. Further analysis shows that year-on-year, a N$5.7 billion deficit was recorded in the same month of 2024. The analysis of Namibia's top trading partners revealed that South Africa maintained its dominance as the country’s largest market for both imports and exports.
“In terms of goods, the country’s export composition for September 2025 was mainly concentrated on commodities from the mining sector such as uranium, precious stones (diamonds), non-monetary gold, as well as nickel ores and concentrates. Fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports,” the report stated.
A 19.4% decline was observed in re-exports month-on-month, whereas a 17.0% increase was registered year-on-year. The re-export basket primarily consisted of diamonds, nickel ores and concentrates of base metals, petroleum oils, fertilisers, and ores and concentrates of base metals.
On the other hand, the import basket mainly comprised petroleum oils, fertilisers, motor vehicles (for commercial purposes), nickel ores and concentrates, and motor vehicles (for the transportation of persons).
“A review of trade in food items revealed that Namibia was a net exporter of food products, with a trade surplus of N$58 million, and a net importer of beverages, having recorded a deficit amounting to N$210 million,” the report noted.
Commodity of the month
The current report considered charcoal as the commodity of the month. The analysis revealed that the country exported charcoal worth N$100 million, mainly to the Netherlands, South Africa and Poland, while on the demand side, Namibia imported charcoal mostly from Malaysia, worth N$1 million.
The country’s export revenue for September 2025 stood at N$7.4 billion, reflecting a decrease of 3.8% compared to the export value recorded in August 2025. Meanwhile, the country’s expenditure on imports stood at N$10.8 billion, reflecting a 16.4% decrease from N$12.9 billion recorded in the preceding month. The export and import positions translated into a trade deficit of N$3.4 billion, mainly due to imports that continued to outpace exports.
Cumulative trade values show that Namibia’s total exports amounted to N$91.7 billion during September 2025, indicating an increase compared to N$83.9 billion recorded over the same period the previous year.
Regarding the sectoral share of total exports, September 2025 saw the mining sector occupying the first position, with the largest export value of N$3.6 billion, contributing 48.4% to the country’s total export revenue. Exports from this sector increased by N$1.7 billion compared to the previous month.
The manufacturing sector ranked second, accounting for 47.5% of total exports in September 2025. However, the export value of goods from this sector weakened, dropping by N$1.9 billion compared to the previous month. Furthermore, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector ranked third, contributing a modest 3.4% to total exports.
“The demand side displays the country’s reliance on foreign manufactured goods after recording significant import flows of products from this industry. In September 2025, the import bill for products from the manufacturing industry stood at N$7.6 billion, showing a 21.2% decrease when compared to August 2025.
“Following in second position was the mining and quarrying industry, which stood at N$2.7 billion, reflecting a 9.8% decrease when compared to the preceding month. Lastly, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector occupied the third position, with imports valued at N$480 million,” the report further stated. - nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na
The improvement signals a gradual strengthening of export performance and a slowdown in imports, though the balance remains negative overall.
According to the report, “this reflects an improvement in the trade balance when compared to a N$5.3 billion deficit recorded in the previous month. Further analysis shows that year-on-year, a N$5.7 billion deficit was recorded in the same month of 2024. The analysis of Namibia's top trading partners revealed that South Africa maintained its dominance as the country’s largest market for both imports and exports.
“In terms of goods, the country’s export composition for September 2025 was mainly concentrated on commodities from the mining sector such as uranium, precious stones (diamonds), non-monetary gold, as well as nickel ores and concentrates. Fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports,” the report stated.
A 19.4% decline was observed in re-exports month-on-month, whereas a 17.0% increase was registered year-on-year. The re-export basket primarily consisted of diamonds, nickel ores and concentrates of base metals, petroleum oils, fertilisers, and ores and concentrates of base metals.
On the other hand, the import basket mainly comprised petroleum oils, fertilisers, motor vehicles (for commercial purposes), nickel ores and concentrates, and motor vehicles (for the transportation of persons).
“A review of trade in food items revealed that Namibia was a net exporter of food products, with a trade surplus of N$58 million, and a net importer of beverages, having recorded a deficit amounting to N$210 million,” the report noted.
Commodity of the month
The current report considered charcoal as the commodity of the month. The analysis revealed that the country exported charcoal worth N$100 million, mainly to the Netherlands, South Africa and Poland, while on the demand side, Namibia imported charcoal mostly from Malaysia, worth N$1 million.
The country’s export revenue for September 2025 stood at N$7.4 billion, reflecting a decrease of 3.8% compared to the export value recorded in August 2025. Meanwhile, the country’s expenditure on imports stood at N$10.8 billion, reflecting a 16.4% decrease from N$12.9 billion recorded in the preceding month. The export and import positions translated into a trade deficit of N$3.4 billion, mainly due to imports that continued to outpace exports.
Cumulative trade values show that Namibia’s total exports amounted to N$91.7 billion during September 2025, indicating an increase compared to N$83.9 billion recorded over the same period the previous year.
Regarding the sectoral share of total exports, September 2025 saw the mining sector occupying the first position, with the largest export value of N$3.6 billion, contributing 48.4% to the country’s total export revenue. Exports from this sector increased by N$1.7 billion compared to the previous month.
The manufacturing sector ranked second, accounting for 47.5% of total exports in September 2025. However, the export value of goods from this sector weakened, dropping by N$1.9 billion compared to the previous month. Furthermore, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector ranked third, contributing a modest 3.4% to total exports.
“The demand side displays the country’s reliance on foreign manufactured goods after recording significant import flows of products from this industry. In September 2025, the import bill for products from the manufacturing industry stood at N$7.6 billion, showing a 21.2% decrease when compared to August 2025.
“Following in second position was the mining and quarrying industry, which stood at N$2.7 billion, reflecting a 9.8% decrease when compared to the preceding month. Lastly, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector occupied the third position, with imports valued at N$480 million,” the report further stated. - nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na
