Chamwe Kaira
Namibia exported fresh dates valued at N$2.6 million in September, which was destined to South Africa and Bangladesh.
The Namibia Statistics Agency said over the entire period (September 2022 to September 2023), the value of fresh dates exported averaged N$10.3 million with the largest value of N$31 million recorded in February 2023 and the lowest values being recorded in September and December 2022 where no fresh dates were exported.
On the demand side, during September, Namibia imported fresh dates valued at N$31 038 solely sourced from South Africa.
In terms of trading blocks, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) maintained its first position as the largest source of imports for Namibia in September, contributing 40.9 percent and supplied Namibia mainly with, motor vehicles for the transportation of goods, articles of plastics and tractors.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) came in second position with a share of 18 percent of all goods imported providing the country mostly with ‘civil engineering and contractors’ equipment’, petroleum oils and motor cars for the transportation of persons.
In terms of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) whose objective is to progressively eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods and liberalise trade in services; cooperate on investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy, the Namibia Statistics Agency looked at Namibia’s trade with Morocco.
Namibia exported goods worth N$5.7 million during the period 2015 to 2022, while on the demand side, goods amounting to N$2 billion over the same period were sourced from Morocco. The import basket primarily comprised of inorganic chemical elements and Fish.
During September, Namibia exported goods worth N$4.3 billion to the whole of Africa whereas, on the demand side, the country sourced goods from Africa worth N$5.5 billion during September, of which N$107 million was sourced from Morocco.
