CHAMWE KAIRA
Goods worth N$3.7 billion, representing 43,2% of total exports, left the country by sea in October, according to the International Merchandise Trade Statistics, released by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The basket of exports via sea comprised mainly of uranium, fish and ‘nickel ores and concentrates.’
Airborne exports made up 31,6% of total exports, primarily consisting of non-monetary gold and precious stones (diamonds).
Road transportation accounted for 25,2%, with petroleum oils, fish and fertilizers being the highest-valued commodities transported via the respective mode.
In terms of volume, a total of 358 985 tons of goods left the country, representing an increase of 21.7% and 22,7% when compared to September 2024 and October 2023, respectively.
During October, 185 585 tons of goods were recorded as exported via sea, representing an increase of 42,4% month-on-month and 32.3% year-on-year.
A total of 173 273 tons of goods left the country by road, yielding an increase of 8 896 tons and 20 924 tons when compared to 164 378 tons and 152 349 tons registered in September and the same month of 2023, respectively.
Finally, only 127 tons of goods left the country by air during October, indicating a decrease of 34 tons month-on-month and an increase of 71 tons year-on-year.
Road transportation was the most valued mode of transport used for the goods imported during October. Imports by road were valued at N$8,6 billion, representing a 52% share of all goods imported into the country.
Inorganic chemical elements, ‘motor vehicles for the transportation of goods’ and ‘nickel ores and concentrates’ were the commodities with the highest value imported via this respective mode of transport.
Sea transport followed in second place accounting for 44,6% of all goods imported into the country and its basket comprised mainly of petroleum oils, ‘copper ores and concentrates’ and ‘civil engineering and contractors’ equipment’.
Finally, 3,3% of total goods imported reached Namibia via air, telecommunications equipment, medicaments and ‘measuring, checking, analysing and controlling instruments’ were the main commodities transported via air
“With respect to volume, on the demand side, goods imported into the country amounted to 529 225 tons during the month under review, increasing by 13,9% compared to the previous month and decreasing by 7,7% year-on-year,” the agency.
During October, 304 750 tons of goods arrived in Namibia by sea, this translates into an increase of 12.4% and a decrease of 20.3% when compared to 271 040 tons and 382 388 tons recorded in September and October 2023, respectively.
Additionally, 223 965 tons of goods entered the country by road, translating into an increase of 15,7% and 17,6% when compared to 193 522 tons recorded the previous month and 190 521 tons in October 2023, respectively.
Finally, 282 tons of goods arrived in the country by air during October, yielding an increase of 61 tons and 90 tons when compared to September and October 2023, respectively.
