Business Reporter
IN July 2026, Namibia’s trade developments reveal that exports amounted to N$10.7 billion, while imports were higher at N$16.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit, which entails a negative difference between the country’s exports and imports, of N$5.9 billion.
This is according to the International Merchandise Trade bulletin for July 2026, released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
Alex Shimuafeni, head statistician at the NSA, explained that this development reflects a worsened trade balance when compared to the N$5.4 billion deficit recorded in June 2026. Further analysis shows a N$17 million surplus recorded in the same month of the previous year.
The July 2026 figures recorded trade deficits on goods such as petroleum oils (N$2.2 billion), motor vehicles (for commercial purposes) (N$584 million), and motor vehicles for the transportation of persons (N$467 million).
Conversely, the country recorded trade surpluses on commodities such as non-monetary gold (N$1.9 billion), precious stones (diamonds) at N$1.5 billion, as well as fish, with a surplus of N$1.4 billion.
The analysis of Namibia’s top trading partners revealed that South Africa emerged as the country’s largest market for both exports and imports. On the goods front, the country’s export basket for July 2026 was mainly composed of commodities from the mining sector, such as non-monetary gold, precious stones (diamonds), ‘nickel ores and concentrates’, and uranium.
Fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports. Re-exports notably decreased by 10.5% and 3.6% on a monthly and annual basis, respectively. The re-export basket primarily comprised ‘nickel ores and concentrates’, petroleum oils, ‘sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites’, other crude minerals and fertilisers.
On the other hand, the import basket mainly comprised petroleum oils, ‘nickel ores and concentrates’, ‘sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites’, motor vehicles (for commercial purposes), and motor vehicles for the transportation of persons.
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$533 million, while for beverages, Namibia was a net importer (imported more beverages than it exported), having recorded a deficit amounting to N$282 million.
Regarding the sectoral share of total exports, July 2026 saw the manufacturing sector occupying the first position, with the largest export value of N$6.2 billion, subsequently generating more than half of the country’s total export revenue, while a month-on-month comparison reflects an increase of N$614 million in exports of products from this sector.
The mining and quarrying sector was second, accounting for 36.3% of total exports in July 2026, with the export value of goods from this sector decreasing by N$2.9 billion when compared to the previous month.
Furthermore, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector ranked third, making up 5.4% of the country’s total export basket.
The demand side displays the country’s reliance on foreign manufactured goods after recording huge import flows of products from this industry. In July 2026, the import bill for products of the manufacturing industry stood at N$12.0 billion, indicating a decrease of 5.8% when compared to June 2026. Following in the second position was the mining and quarrying industry, which stood at N$4.2 billion, reflecting a 21.3% decrease when compared to the preceding month.
Lastly, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector occupied the third position, with imports valued at N$347 million.
