DNE Africa – Namibia’s trade with other African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) surged in September 2024, with exports reaching NAD 4.7 billion (about $267 million) and imports valued at NAD 7.7 billion (about $437 million), according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The AfCFTA, a flagship project of the African Union under Agenda 2063, aims to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-African trade.
NSA Statistician General Alex Shimuafeni said in the Trade Statistics Bulletin for September that Namibia’s intra-Africa exports of NAD 4.7 billion represented 52.3 percent of the country’s total exports worldwide. Meanwhile, intra-Africa imports of NAD 7.7 billion accounted for 51.8 percent of its global total.
According to Shimuafeni, Namibia’s main export destinations within Africa include South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola. Imports primarily originate from the same countries, excluding Angola but including Morocco and Togo.
Beyond Africa, South Africa remains Namibia’s largest export partner, accounting for 20.4 percent of total exports. Botswana follows with 19.2 percent, while China ranks third at 16.5 percent. Zambia and France are fourth and fifth, contributing 7.6 and 6.5 percent, respectively.
In terms of imports, South Africa leads with 37.6 percent of total imports, followed by China at 10.6 percent and Brazil at 6.4 percent. Chile and Morocco hold fourth and fifth positions, each contributing 3.7 percent of total imports.
Namibia’s exports in September were predominantly mineral products, including diamonds, uranium, gold, and petroleum oils, with fish being the only non-mineral product among the top five exports. Imports were dominated by petroleum oils, precious metal ores, fertilizers, copper ores, and commercial vehicles.
