CHAMWE KAIRA
Sea transport remained Namibia’s leading export channel in April 2026, carrying goods worth N$3.8 billion and accounting for 39% of the country’s total exports, according to the latest Namibia International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin.
The main commodities exported by sea were uranium, fish, and nickel ores and concentrates.
Air transport ranked second, contributing 32% of total export value, largely driven by shipments of non-monetary gold and diamonds.
Road transport accounted for the remaining 29%, with petroleum oils, fish and fertilizers making up the bulk of exports moved by road.
Despite the strong export values, the total volume of goods exported declined significantly. Namibia exported 256 596 tonnes of goods during April, representing a 24.8% decrease from March 2026 and a 28.6% decline compared to April 2025.
Road transport handled the largest export volume, with 167 133 tonnes leaving the country, down by 3,073 tonnes from the previous month and 51 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
Exports by sea totaled 89 272 tonnes, a sharp decline of 47.8% from March 2026 and 53.5% from April 2025. Air freight volumes remained relatively small, with only 190 tonnes exported, although this represented increases of 43.7% month-on-month and 58.6% year-on-year.
On the import side, road transport dominated by value, accounting for N$8.7 billion or 61.7% of Namibia’s total imports during April.
The highest-value imports transported by road included nickel ores and concentrates, commercial vehicles, and passenger vehicles.
Sea transport ranked second, accounting for 35.2% of total import value, with petroleum oils forming the largest share of goods imported by sea.
Air transport contributed 3.2% of import value, driven mainly by imports of diamonds, telecommunications equipment, and aircraft and related equipment.
In volume terms, Namibia imported 485 488 tonnes of goods during April 2026, an increase of 7% from March and 4.2% higher than the corresponding period in 2025.
Sea freight accounted for 257 708 tonnes of imported goods, although this represented a decline of 1.9% compared to March 2026 and 5% lower than April 2025.
Road imports totaled 227 542 tonnes, reflecting strong growth of 19.4% month-on-month and 17.1% year-on-year.
Air imports amounted to 165 tonnes, declining by 13.4% from the previous month and 1.8% compared to April 2025.
