Observer Money

Wandile Sihlobo  We are entering a busy period in South Africa’s agricultural production cycle. On April 23, we are due to receive the Crop Estimate Committee’s (CEC) third production forecast for 2025-26 summer grains and oilseeds. This estimate is typically a stronger indicator than the first two on how the season’s harvest will look, as the crop has largely passed the pollination stage. At the same time, we are due to get the CEC data on farmers’ planting intentions for 2026-27 winter crops. The weather outlook, winter crop prices, and the availability and cost of inputs, among other considerations, inform…

Chamwe Kaira  Walvis Bay handled exports worth N$2.1 billion in February, making it the country’s leading export point. Other key export routes included Eros Airport, which facilitated goods worth N$1.7 billion, and the Katima Mulilo border post at N$1.2 billion. On the import side, Walvis Bay remained the main entry point, handling goods valued at N$3.9 billion.  Ariamsvlei followed with N$2.7 billion, while the Trans Kalahari border post handled N$1.8 billion. Namibia’s trade with the African continent showed higher imports than exports.  The country exported goods worth N$4.3 billion to Africa and imported goods worth N$5.6 billion, resulting in a…

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has welcomed the appointment of Nicholas Mukasa as its second deputy governor, effective 1 May 2026. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made the appointment in line with the Constitution and the Bank of Namibia Act. Mukasa will support the central bank's governor Ebson Uanguta in guiding the bank’s strategy and reform plans. His role includes strengthening the bank’s ability to respond to changes in the economy, including the shift toward digital financial services and developments in sectors such as energy. Mukasa has nearly 20 years of experience in financial markets, investment management and risk analysis.…

Staff Writer Namibia’s transport prices fell in March 2026, but this trend is expected to reverse after a fuel price increase in April. The transport category, which makes up 14.3% of the consumer price index, recorded a decline of 1.7% year-on-year in March. This is compared to a 2.6% increase in March last year. Simonis Storm Securities said the decline reduced overall inflation by 0.3 percentage points. The drop was driven by lower costs in operating personal transport. These costs fell by 3.3% year-on-year. Fuel prices remained unchanged in March at N$19.58 per litre for petrol and N$19.63 for diesel…

Namibia is emerging as a central focus in TotalEnergies’ expanding African project pipeline, with the company targeting a final investment decision on its Venus oil discovery by the fourth quarter of 2026. The development, located offshore in Namibia’s Orange Basin, is considered one of the most closely watched deepwater oil projects globally and could significantly shape the country’s future oil and gas sector if approved. The update comes as TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice President for Africa, Mike Sangster, prepares to speak at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris on April 22–23. The forum is expected to highlight the company’s…

Staff Writer  Simonis Storm Securities projects Namibia’s real GDP growth at about 2.3% in 2026, slightly below government estimates. The firm said recent developments such as stability in the mining sector, infrastructure spending and improving private sector sentiment after the eurobond repayment are expected to support growth over time. “This disconnect is in the previous good developments that have happened, like mining sector stabilisation (uranium and gold), infrastructure spending multipliers and improving private sector sentiment following the Eurobond retirement; the momentum is building and will filter through in the next year or two,” the firm said. Simonis said a stronger…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N$5.2 billion in February 2026, reversing the N$198 million surplus recorded in January, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni. The deficit also widened compared to February 2025, when the country recorded a shortfall of N$2.1 billion. South Africa remained Namibia’s largest trading partner for both exports and imports. Shimuafeni said exports were driven by mining products, including non-monetary gold, diamonds, petroleum oils and ores and concentrates of base metals.  He said fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports. Re-exports…

Chamwe Kaira  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says work to upgrade and maintain railway infrastructure across Namibia is ongoing, alongside efforts to build skills in the transport sector. She told lawmakers on Wednesday that 98 young people have been trained in railway maintenance as part of efforts to improve the country’s rail system. Nandi-Ndaitwah said procurement is underway for key projects, including the Trans-Zambezi railway and the Ondangwa–Oshakati Northern railway extension phase three.  The Trans-Kalahari Railway is at the feasibility study stage. The government has also added capacity in the sector.  According to her, a total of 137 new recruits and 57…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% recorded in March 2025, according to the Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA). NSA statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni said monthly inflation rose slightly to 0.2%, compared to 0.0% in February.  Core inflation stood at 2.9%, remaining higher than the headline rate. Regional data shows that zone 2, which includes the Khomas region, recorded the highest annual inflation at 3.2%.  Zone 3, covering ||Karas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions recorded 2.0%, while zone 1, which includes northern regions, recorded the lowest rate at 1.0%.…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded growth in 2025, with total market capitalisation rising to N$2.8 trillion by the end of the year, up from N$2.4 trillion in 2024. Data from the 2025 Bank of Namibia (BoN) annual report shows that the NSX overall index increased by 11% to close at 1 998.49 points, compared to 1 801.18 points in 2024.  The increase followed gains seen in global equity markets during the same period. The local index recorded stronger growth. It rose by 16.8% to 807.75 points, up from 691.32 points a year earlier. Market capitalisation for locally…