Namibia records N$3.4 billion trade deficit in September

Namibia’s trade balance for September 2025 improved to a deficit of N$3.4 billion, recovering from the N$5.3 billion recorded in August and N$5.7 billion in the same month last year.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics report, the country’s total exports amounted to N$7.4 billion, while imports stood at N$10.8 billion during the month under review.

Statistician general Alex Shimuafeni in the report says despite the deficit, the figures indicate an improvement in Namibia’s trade position and are a sign of reduced import dependence.

“The decline in imports and a moderate fall in exports led to a narrower deficit, reflecting resilience in Namibia’s external sector,” he says.

South Africa remained Namibia’s leading trading partner for both exports and imports, absorbing 17.8% of exports and supplying 33.3% of imports.

Botswana, Zambia, China, and the United Arab Emirates completed the list of the country’s top five export markets.

The report further reveals that Namibia’s export basket continues to be dominated by mineral commodities, with uranium accounting for 21.1% of total exports, followed by diamonds at 19.8%, fish at 13.5%, non-monetary gold at 10.7%, and nickel ores and concentrates at 5.6%.

At a regional level, the Southern African Customs Union emerged as Namibia’s largest export destination, accounting for 31.9% of total exports, followed closely by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development market at 31.2%.

The report highlights that Namibia was a net exporter of food items, registering a trade surplus of N$58 million, largely driven by fish exports. However, the country recorded a deficit of N$210 million in beverages.

Charcoal was identified as the commodity of the month, with exports worth N$100 million, primarily destined for The Netherlands, South Africa, and Poland.

“The improvement in the trade balance is encouraging, but Namibia must continue diversifying its exports and invest in manufacturing capacity to reduce dependence on imported goods,” Shimuafeni says.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.