Namibia’s cumulative trade deficit widened to N$20 billion during the first six months of 2026 as imports continued to outpace exports despite stronger earnings from uranium, gold, fish and diamonds.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin for June 2026, cumulative exports reached N$67.2 billion by the end of June, up N$3.1 billion from the same period last year. Imports, however, climbed to N$87.2 billion, compared with N$72.8 billion in the first half of 2025.
The widening gap reflects faster growth in imports than exports during the period.
For June alone, Namibia exported goods worth N$12.9 billion and imported N$18.3 billion, resulting in a monthly trade deficit of N$5.5 billion. This compares with a N$3.2 billion deficit recorded in May and a N$669 million trade surplus in June 2025.
“During the month under review, exports recorded comparable year-on-year values; however, imports highlight a significant variation in trade dynamics when compared to the same period last year,” the NSA said.
China remained Namibia’s largest export market during June, while South Africa continued to be the country’s biggest source of imports.
The NSA said uranium was Namibia’s leading export commodity during the month, contributing 22.3% of total exports, followed by non-monetary gold (11.8%), fish (10.8%), precious stones, including diamonds (10.3%), and nickel ores and concentrates (10.3%).
Together, the five commodities accounted for 65.5% of Namibia’s export earnings during June.
On the import side, the country’s largest import categories were petroleum oils, sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites, nickel ores and concentrates, commercial motor vehicles and fertilisers.
The NSA said Namibia exported goods to 109 countries during June, eight more than in May, while imports originated from 159 countries, four fewer than the previous month.
The country recorded trade surpluses with China (N$1.2 billion), Botswana (N$1.1 billion) and Finland (N$493 million).
However, Namibia posted its largest bilateral trade deficits with the United States (N$3.1 billion), South Africa (N$2.8 billion) and Oman (N$1.5 billion).
The agency also reported that Namibia remained a net exporter of food products, recording a food trade surplus of N$743 million, while beverages posted a trade deficit of N$258 million.
