CHAMWE KAIRA
Sea transportation occupied the top position as the leading mode of transport for exports in May, handling exports valued at N$6.2 billion.
The Namibia International Merchandise Trade Statistics, issued by the Namibia Statistics Agency, stated that this export value represents 50.2% share of the total exports during the period under study.
The basket of exports via sea consisted mainly of uranium, ‘nickel ores and concentrates’ and fish.
The second place was occupied by road transportation, contributing 27.8% of the total export value and its export basket was mainly made up of petroleum oils, fish and ‘sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites’.
Lastly, air transportation accounted for 22%, with precious stones (diamonds), non-monetary gold and fish being the highest-valued commodities transported via this mode of transport.
Regarding trade volumes, a total of 393 168 tons of goods left the country, representing an increase of 52.1% and 7.3% when compared to April 2026 and May 2025, respectively.
During the month under review, 211 407 tons of goods were recorded as exported via sea, representing an increase of 120 644 tons month-on-month and 15 083 tons year-on-year.
A total of 181 613 tons of goods left the country by road, yielding an increase of 8.4% and 7% when compared to tons recorded in April 2026 and May 2025, correspondingly.
Finally, only 148 tons of goods left the country by air during May 2026, indicating decreases of 22.4% and 3.1% month-on-month and year-on-year, respectively.
Road transport accounted for the highest import value among all modes of transportation during the month under review.
Imports via road were valued at N$8.4 billion, representing a 54.2% share of the total import value of all goods. ‘Nickel ores and concentrates’ motor vehicles (for commercial purposes) and motor vehicles for the transportation of persons constituted the highest value of total imports via road transport.
Sea transportation was second, accounting for 42.4% of the total value of all goods imported into the country and its basket consisted mainly of petroleum oils, ‘sulphur and
unroasted iron pyrites’ and ‘wheat and meslin’.
Finally, in a distant third place was air transport, accounting for 3.4% of the total value of goods imported in the country.
Precious stones (diamonds), telecommunication equipment and ‘aircraft and associated equipment’ were the top imported commodities via this mode of transport.
