Chamwe Kaira
Namibia imported commercial vehicles worth N$979 million in March, with most of the vehicles coming from South Africa, India and China, according to the latest international merchandise trade statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
At the same time, the country re-exported commercial vehicles worth N$48 million, mainly to Zambia.
Namibia recorded exports worth N$13.2 billion in March, while imports reached N$15.5 billion. This resulted in a trade deficit of N$2.3 billion.
“This development reflects an improved trade balance when compared to a N$5.2 billion deficit recorded a month earlier and further analysis shows a N$2.3 billion deficit recorded in March 2025,” said NSA statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni.
China emerged as Namibia’s largest export market during the month under review, while South Africa remained the country’s biggest source of imports.
Mining products, such as uranium, non-monetary gold, nickel ores and concentrates, and diamonds, dominated Namibia’s export basket. Fish was the only non-mineral product among the country’s top five exports.
The NSA said re-exports increased by 86.4% compared to the previous month and by 12.7% on an annual basis.
The re-export basket mainly included nickel ores and concentrates, petroleum oils, ores and concentrates of base metals, textile products and chemical products.
On the import side, Namibia mainly imported petroleum oils, commercial vehicles, nickel ores and concentrates, passenger vehicles, and civil engineering and contractors’ equipment.
The top five imported products accounted for 33.1% of total imports during March.
Petroleum oils accounted for the largest share at 16.3% of total imports. Commercial vehicles followed with 6.3%, while nickel ores and concentrates made up 5.4%.
The NSA also reported that Namibia remained a net exporter of food products during March, recording a trade surplus of N$462 million.
However, the country remained a net importer of beverages, recording a trade deficit of N$190 million.
