Namibia trade gap shrinks to N$393m in December

NAMIBIA exported goods worth N$10.7 billion and imported N$11.1 billion worth of goods in December last year, incurring an improved trade deficit of N$393 million for the month.

According to the Namibia International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin, issued by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), December’s exports recorded a 7.5% increase from November, while imports reflected a decrease of 22.9% from N$14.4 billion recorded in the preceding month.

The NSA says a further analysis shows a N$297 million surplus recorded year on year.

According to the bulletin, South Africa was the country’s largest market for both exports and imports, while corrugated zinc was the commodity of the month with N$6 million imports and N$251 100 exports.

“Year to date, Namibia’s cumulative exports amounted to N$125.7 billion during December 2025, an increase from N$116.8 billion for the same period in 2024,” the bulletin states.

The manufacturing sector took top spot with the largest export value of N$4.9 billion.
Mining and quarrying took second, accounting for 43.6% of December exports from the sector which increased by N$461 million from November.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector ranked third, with 10.1% of total exports.

Meanwhile, the December import bill from the manufacturing sector was N$8.4 billion, followed by the mining and quarrying industry, with N$2.4 billion.

“The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector took third position with N$271 million imports,” the bulletin notes.

Meanwhile, December 2025’s imports amounted to N$11.1 billion, reflecting decreases both month on month and year on year of 22.9% and 8.6%, respectively, the agency notes.

Namibia recorded trade surpluses with Botswana (N$1.6 billion), China (N$855 million), and The Netherlands (N$468 million) while deficits were against South Africa (N$1.5 billion), India (N$488 million), and Oman (N$449 million).

The country recorded deficits in petroleum oils (N$1.1 billion), motor vehicles at N$987 million while trade surpluses were on non-monetary gold (N$1.9 billion), uranium (N$1.8 billion), and precious stones (diamonds), with N$1.7 billion.

The country exported goods to 107 markets, which is 10 more than the markets recorded in November 2025, but imported goods from 151 markets across the world, down by 12 markets from November 2025.

Meanwhile, non-monetary gold was Namibia’s largest export commodity in December 2025, while diamonds were second.
Uranium destined mainly for China was third.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na

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