NAMIBIA’S grain production soared by 375.9% in late 2025, driven primarily by a massive wheat harvest and a significant reduction in the agronomy import bill.
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) says production of controlled agronomy produce – white maize, pearl millet and wheat – stood at 22 643 tonnes during the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 4 758 tonnes recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024.
This is contained in the Quarterly Agriculture and Fishing Indicator Statistical Bulletin overview of the agriculture and fishing indicators for Namibia, issued by NSA statistician-general Alex Shimuafeni on Wednesday.
“This translates into an increase of 375.9% in the production level. This performance is attributed to wheat, which recorded a robust growth of 1 057.6%,” he says.
Shimuafeni says agriculture and fishing activities covered in this bulletin are undertaken both on-shore and off-shore within Namibia.
He says the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is a foundational pillar of the Namibian economy, driving growth, alleviating poverty, improving food security, creating employment, and providing raw materials for industries.
“This bulletin provides selected indicators for livestock, crops and fishing to reflect the sector’s performance during the fourth quarter of 2025 – from October to December,” he says.
During the quarter under review, wheat, white maize and pearl millet (mahangu) production was 21 058 tonnes, 1 059 tonnes and 526 tonnes, respectively.
“During the review period, the value of export for agronomy was N$175 500 compared to N$855 200 recorded in the same quarter of 2024. The import bill registered for agronomy products in the fourth quarter of 2025 was N$488 million compared to N$863 million registered in the corresponding quarter of 2024,” Shimuafeni says.
“The total export of agronomy products in the fourth quarter of 2025 was valued at N$175 500, a decline of 79.5% when compared to the N$855 200 recorded in the same quarter of 2024. Export earnings were mostly from maize, which accounted for 99.9% of the total export earnings,” he says.
The cereal grains exported in the fourth quarter of 2025 were mainly destined to South Africa and Angola, accounting for 76.5% and 23.4% respectively, being mainly maize.
The bulletin says Namibia’s fish products earned the country N$2.9 billion in exports during the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to N$2.6 billion recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024.
It says the import bill for fish products during the fourth quarter of 2025 stood at N$136.9 million, compared to N$100.4 million recorded in the same quarter of 2024.
Namibia’s fish exports are a cornerstone of its economy, with earnings reaching N$4.2 billion in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by hake, horse mackerel, and monk.
Spain is the primary market for frozen hake fillets, while Zambia and South Africa are key destinations for horse mackerel.
The fishing sector, based at Walvis Bay, significantly contributes to food trade surpluses.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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