STAFF WRITER
Namibia Statistics Agency says the country recorded a trade deficit of N$5.5 billion in June.
According to the latest statistics released by the trade bureau Namibia exported goods worth N$12.9 billion against an import bill of N$18.3 billion – resulting in a negative difference between the country’s exports and imports of N$5.5 billion.
Statistician General Alex Shimuafeni said this development reflects a worsened trade balance when compared to a N$3.2 billion deficit recorded in May 2026.
A further analysis of the figures shows a N$669 million surplus recorded in the same month of the previous year.
Shimuafeni said China emerged as the country’s largest market for exports, while South Africa was the country’s main source of imports.
“ On the goods front, the country’s export basket for June 2026 was mainly composed of commodities from the mining sector, such as uranium, non-monetary gold, precious stones (diamonds), and ‘nickel ores and concentrates’. Fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports.” Shimuafeni said.
He said re- exports increased by 9.9 percent on a monthly basis and by 26.4 percent on an annual basis.
According to the NSA the re-export basket primarily comprised ‘nickel ores and concentrates’, petroleum oils, ‘ores and concentrates of base metals’, ‘sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites’ and rubber tyres.
On the other hand, the import basket mainly comprised petroleum oils, ‘sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites’, ‘nickel ores and concentrates’, motor vehicles (for commercial purposes), and fertilizers.
“A closer review of trade in food items revealed that Namibia was a net exporter (exported more food than it imported) with a trade surplus of N$743 million, while for beverages, Namibia was a net importer (imported more beverages than it exported), having recorded a deficit amounting to N$258 million,” Shimuafeni said.
The current report by the NSA also considered ‘office wooden furniture’ as the commodity of the month.
NSA said their analysis revealed that, on the supply side, the country re-exported’office wooden furniture’ worth N$9 386, destined for Angola and South Africa, while on the demand side, the country imported ‘office wooden furniture’ worth N$3.8 million, mainly sourced from South Africa.
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