CHAMWE KAIRA
Namibia’s trade deficit narrowed to N$3.1 billion in May 2026 as export earnings increased to N$12.4 billion against imports of N$15.5 billion, according to the latest trade statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The May deficit represents an improvement from the N$4.4 billion trade deficit recorded in April 2026, although it remains weaker than the N$115 million trade surplus recorded in May 2025.
Statistician-General and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni said the figures reflected an improving trade balance from the previous month, although Namibia continued to record a trade deficit as imports exceeded exports.
The report shows that China was Namibia’s largest export destination during the month, while South Africa remained the country’s leading source of imports.
Mining products continued to dominate Namibia’s exports. The country’s top export commodities included uranium, diamonds, non-monetary gold, and nickel ores and concentrates. Fish was the only non-mineral product among the five largest export categories.
The NSA also reported strong growth in re-exports, which increased by 49.7% compared with April 2026 and by 3.8%year-on-year.
The main re-exported products were nickel ores and concentrates, petroleum oils, ores and concentrates of base metals, sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites, and fertilizers.
Imports were largely driven by petroleum oils, nickel ores and concentrates, commercial motor vehicles, sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites, and passenger motor vehicles.
Analysis of food trade showed that Namibia remained a net exporter of food products during May, recording a trade surplus of N$510 million. By contrast, the country remained a net importer of beverages, posting a trade deficit of N$226 million.
The NSA also highlighted potatoes as the commodity of the month. Namibia exported fresh potatoes worth N$35 565 to Angola during May, while importing seed potatoes valued at N$119 000 from South Africa. The country also imported fresh potatoes from China and India worth a combined N$17.9 million.
