Namibia’s export trade with the European Union (EU) supports more than 40 000 jobs, particularly in the fishing, meat, fruit and charcoal industries, according to new trade findings highlighting the importance of the European market to the country’s economy, released by economist Robin Sherbourne.
The EU remains one of Namibia’s top export destinations and was the country’s third-largest export market by value in both 2024 and 2025, accounting for 19.4% of total exports in 2025.
The findings show that Namibia exports a more diversified basket of goods to the EU than to most of its other major trading partners.
Products exported to Europe include fish and crustaceans, uranium, meat, fruit, charcoal, diamonds and base metals.
Analysts noted that exports to the EU are concentrated in relatively labour-intensive sectors, contributing significantly to employment creation across several industries.
Namibia’s four largest export markets, Botswana, China, the EU and South Africa, together account for more than 80% of the country’s exports.
Within the EU, Namibia trades with all 27 member states, although six countries — Spain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Germany — accounted for 95% of Namibia’s exports to the bloc.
The report also found that trade between Namibia and the EU was relatively balanced in 2025, with Namibia recording a small trade surplus.
Export trends have shifted since the last trade study conducted in 2023, largely due to rising uranium and gold prices and weaker diamond prices.
In 2025, Namibia’s exports were heavily concentrated in four major product categories — uranium, gold, fish and diamonds — which together accounted for more than 80% of exports by value from total exports worth N$90.4 billion.
The report said the destination markets for diamonds, uranium and gold play a major role in shaping Namibia’s export patterns.
Diamonds produced by Namdeb Holdings, including operations under Namdeb and Debmarine, are sold to Namdia and DTC Botswana.
Namibia’s uranium exports are driven by major mining operations, including the Husab Mine, described as one of the largest single Chinese investments in Africa, as well as the Rössing Uranium and Langer Heinrich Uranium mines.
Among individual European countries, Spain and France remained significant destinations for Namibian exports. Exports to Spain rose slightly from N$5.5 billion in 2024 to N$5.7 billion in 2025, while exports to France increased sharply from N$3.4 billion to N$5.3 billion over the same period.
The United States also emerged as a stronger export destination, with exports growing from N$2.4 billion in 2024 to N$3.8 billion in 2025, making it Namibia’s seventh-largest export market.
Other notable export destinations in 2025 included Zambia at N$3.7 billion, the Netherlands at N$3.1 billion and the United Arab Emirates at N$1.6 billion.
Exports to African regional blocs remained relatively modest. Exports to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) stood at N$5.6 billion in 2025, accounting for 6.2% of total exports, while exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) amounted to N$540 million, or 0.6% of total exports.
