Namibia’s trade deficit in February improved, standing at N$2 billion compared to N$2.7 billion recorded in January 2025. This is as domestic export earnings for the same month stood at N$10.1 billion, a decrease of 5.1% from N$10.7 billion recorded in January 2025.

The Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) latest Trade Statistics Bulletin reveal that during
February 2025, exports decreased by 5.1% from N$10.7 billion recorded in January 2025, an increase of 66.7% when compared to February 2024.

The import value decreased by 9.3% when compared to January 2025 and increased by 21.5% when compared to N$10.0 billion recorded in February 2024.

“South Africa was the country’s largest export destination, with a share of 25.5% of all goods exported, followed by China with a share of 23.3%. Zambia, France and Botswana were part of Namibia’s top five export markets. 

The demand side saw South Africa maintaining its position as the country’s largest source for imports, accounting for 38.6% of Namibia’s total imports, followed by China with 10.4% of the market `share. 

India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States of America were among the country’s top five import markets,” the NSA states.

The analysis of exports by commodities revealed that uranium had the largest share of the export basket, accounting for 26.3% of Namibia’s total exports, ahead of non-monetary gold, which accounted for 17.6%. Fish, petroleum oils and inorganic chemical elements also formed part of the top five exported products.

In terms of imports, petroleum oils, with a share of 12.7%, were the highest imported commodity during the month under study, while motor vehicles (for commercial purposes) in second accounted for a share of 4.0%. 

Inorganic chemical elements, ‘Nickel ores and concentrates’ and ‘Ores and concentrates of base metals’ were part of the top five imported products.

According to the NSA, Namibia was a net exporter when it comes to food items, with a trade surplus of N$152 million, while beverages had a deficit of N$268 million.

An analysis of the exportation and importation of wines as the commodity of the month
revealed that in February 2025, Namibia imported wines worth N$67.2 million, mostly from South Africa and France, while on the supply side, the country exported wines valued at N$5.5 million and was mostly destined to Kenya and the DRC.

Imports and exports of the commodity averaged N$76.7 million and N$7.0 million, respectively, over the period February 2024-February 2025.