South Africa exported goods worth N$474.49 billion (US$29.29 billion) to Namibia between January and May 2026, exceeding imports from Namibia, which totalled N$181.93 billion (US$11.23 billion) over the same period, according to cumulative trade figures released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
The figures show that South Africa recorded a trade surplus of N$292.57 billion (US$18.06 billion) with Namibia during the first five months of the year, underscoring the country’s position as Namibia’s largest trading partner and a key supplier of manufactured goods.
South Africa’s largest export category to Namibia was machinery and mechanical equipment, valued at N$94.44 billion (US$5.83 billion). This was followed by prepared foodstuffs at N$62.99 billion (US$3.89 billion), vehicles, aircraft and vessels at N$60.57 billion (US$3.74 billion), and chemicals worth N$58.40 billion (US$3.61 billion).
Other major export categories included products of iron and steel valued at N$35.36 billion (US$2.18 billion), textiles at N$26.18 billion (US$1.62 billion), plastics and rubber at N$22.61 billion (US$1.40 billion), vegetables at N$20.07 billion (US$1.24 billion), and mineral products at N$19.79 billion (US$1.22 billion).
Additional exports comprised photographic and medical equipment, toys and sporting goods, wood and paper products, footwear, stone and glass products, live animals, animal and vegetable fats, raw hides and leather, precious metals, works of art, and other unclassified goods.
South Africa’s notable imports from Namibia included live animals valued at N$20.15 billion (US$1.24 billion), prepared foodstuffs at N$7.82 billion (US$482.88 million), vegetables at N$2.75 billion (US$169.87 million), products of iron and steel at N$2.75 billion (US$169.59 million), mineral products at N$2.62 billion (US$161.61 million), machinery at N$2.40 billion (US$148.08 million), and wood products at N$1.87 billion (US$115.45 million).
Smaller import categories included plastics and rubber, raw hides and leather, stone and glass products, chemicals, wood pulp and paper, photographic and medical equipment, vehicles, aircraft and vessels, textiles, footwear, toys and sporting goods, works of art, and other unclassified goods.
