Namibian equity markets displayed sharply contrasting performance this week, with the NSX Local index managing a marginal gain of 0.04% to close at 723.4 points, while the broader NSX Overall Index suffered a significant retreat of 3.94%, falling to 1742.3 points and erasing much of the previous week’s gains. As of June 15, 2025, the market capitalization rankings among Namibia’s leading listed companies remain stable. FirstRand Namibia continues to maintain its dominant position with a market value of N$12.5 billion, followed by Capricorn Group at N$11.2 billion, Mobile Telecommunications at N$6.2 billion, and Namibia Breweries at N$6.0 billion. Agra emerged as the week’s top performer, with its shares advancing 1.0% to close at N$3.85 per share. Capricorn Group secured second place among gainers, posting a modest increase of 0.1% to settle at N$21.58. Capricorn Group saw N$1.1 million worth of shares changing hands during the period. Standard Bank Namibia Holdings recorded the second-highest trading volume with transactions valued at N$400 thousand. The local currency declined 0.76% against the US Dollar to close at N$17.91, while falling more sharply by 1.04% against the British Pound to finish at N$24.31. The most significant decline came against the Euro, where the Namibia Dollar weakened by 2.15% to end the week at N$20.69.
Namibia’s inflation trajectory maintained its moderating path in May 2025, with the headline annual rate declining to 3.5 percent from the 4.9 percent recorded in the corresponding month last year. Monthly price movements remained steady, with the inflation rate rising 0.2 percent on a month-on-month basis. However, core inflation, which excludes volatile items and provides insight into underlying price pressures, stood at 4.1 percent, remaining slightly above the headline figure. Zone 3, encompassing the //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke regions, registered the highest annual inflation at 4.0 percent, exceeding the national average. Zone 1, comprising the northern regions of Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi, recorded inflation precisely in line with the headline rate at 3.5 percent. The capital region, Zone 2 (Khomas), experienced the lowest inflation at 3.1 percent. “Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages” remained the primary contributor, adding 1.2 percentage points to the headline inflation rate, reflecting ongoing pressures in agricultural and imported food costs. “Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels” followed as the second-largest contributor at 0.9 percentage points, while “Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco” contributed 0.8 percentage points to the overall rate.
