CHAMWE KAIRA
Imports of beverages into Namibia remained well above exports between April 2025 and April 2026, averaging N$327 million per month compared to average monthly exports of N$90 million, according to the latest trade data.
The figures show that beverage imports peaked at N$677 million in October 2025, marking the highest monthly value during the 13-month period under review.
Imports remained above N$300 million for much of the period, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on imported alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Exports, by contrast, reached their highest level in November 2025 at N$179 million.
The lowest monthly export value was recorded in September 2025, when beverage exports amounted to N$51 million.
The data also shows fluctuations in Namibia’s beverage trade over the review period.
Imports ranged from a low of N$242 million in April 2025 to the October peak, before easing in subsequent months. By April 2026, beverage imports stood at N$302 million.
Exports displayed a more modest trend, generally remaining below N$100 million for most months despite the sharp increase in November 2025. Export earnings totalled N$108 million in April 2026.
The trade statistics cover both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and highlight the persistent gap between Namibia’s beverage imports and exports throughout the period.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, in April, Namibia’s intra-African trade recorded exports valued at N$5.5 billion.
On the other hand, the country imported goods worth N$7.7 billion from the continent, yielding a trade deficit of N$2.3 million and total trade of N$13.2 billion.
A comparison of Namibia’s trade with Africa and the rest of the world highlights the significant role of regional markets, with intra-African exports accounting for 56.1% of total exports and imports from Africa making up 54.7% of total imports.
The agency said this indicates that more than half of Namibia’s trade is regionally concentrated, emphasising the importance of African markets in balancing external trade dependence and strengthening regional economic integration.
Namibia’s exports were mostly absorbed by countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe.
In contrast, most imports came from the same countries, except for Zimbabwe and Botswana, which were replaced by Nigeria and Morocco.
