Namibia recorded imports worth N$13.4 billion and exports valued at N$10.7 billion in January 2025, resulting in a trade deficit of N$2.7 billion, according to the latest data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
Sea transportation dominated both imports and exports, with imports via sea reaching N$7.1 billion, accounting for 53.1% of all goods brought into the country. According to the NSA, the primary commodities imported through this mode were copper ores, concentrates, and petroleum oils.
Road transport followed closely, contributing 44.3% of imports, which included ores and concentrates of base metals, motor vehicles for goods transport, and passenger vehicles. Air transportation accounted for only 2.6% of imports, primarily consisting of telecommunications equipment and medicaments, the NSA reported.
On the export front, Namibia’s total exports for January 2025 amounted to N$10.7 billion, marking a decline from the N$11.6 billion recorded in the same period the previous year.
Sea transportation led exports, handling goods worth N$5 billion, or 46.5% of total exports. According to the NSA, uranium and fish were the primary export commodities transported via sea.
Air transport ranked second, contributing 27.2% of exports, with non-monetary gold and precious stones, particularly diamonds, leading the category. Road transportation accounted for 26.4% of exports, dominated by petroleum oils, fish, and fertilizers.
According to the statistics body, Namibia exported a total of 398,709 tons of goods, reflecting a 0.3% increase from December 2024 and a significant 31.8% rise compared to January 2024.
Exports by sea stood at 203,729 tons, representing a 2.8% decrease from the previous month but a 24.4% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, road exports reached 194,872 tons, recording a 3.8% month-on-month increase and a 40.6% surge compared to the same period last year.
Air exports totaled 108 tons, indicating a decline of 20 tons from December but a year-on-year increase of 49 tons.
South Africa remained Namibia’s largest export destination, absorbing 22.8% of total exports, followed by the United States at 14%. Botswana, Zambia, and Belgium also ranked among the country’s top five export markets.
On the import side, South Africa continued to be Namibia’s primary supplier, contributing 29.5% of total imports. China ranked second with 13.7%, followed by Peru, the United States, and India.
The NSA identified ‘Disc Ploughs, harrows (including scarifiers, cultivators, weeders, and hoes)’ as the commodity of the month for January 2025. Namibia imported these agricultural tools worth N$1.1 million, primarily from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The monthly average import value for this category between January 2024 and January 2025 stood at N$2.6 million.
