Namibia’s export sector demonstrated robust growth in April 2025, generating N$11.0 billion in revenue and marking a significant 9.1 percent monthly increase alongside a 16.1 percent annual expansion. This performance, detailed in the Namibia Statistics Agency’s latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin, underscores a strengthening trade position despite persistent global economic uncertainties. The nation simultaneously narrowed its trade deficit to N$1.9 billion, a substantial improvement from the N$2.7 billion deficit recorded in March 2025 and a notable recovery from the N$3.1 billion deficit in April 2024.
The export surge was overwhelmingly propelled by the extractive sector, with uranium leading the charge. Shipments of this critical mineral generated N$2.86 billion, constituting 26.0 percent of total export earnings and primarily destined for China. Non-monetary gold followed as the second-largest export commodity, contributing N$1.69 billion (15.4 percent) and flowing predominantly to South Africa. Fish, Namibia’s leading non-mineral export, secured the third position with earnings of N$1.26 billion (11.5 percent), finding key markets in Spain, Zambia, and Italy. Precious stones, chiefly diamonds, added N$1.15 billion (10.5 percent), largely exported to Botswana, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium, while ores and concentrates of base metals contributed N$639 million (5.8 percent), primarily shipped to Brazil, South Africa, and China. Collectively, these top five export commodities accounted for 69.1 percent of Namibia’s total export revenue for the month.
Geographically, China solidified its position as Namibia’s single largest export destination, absorbing 29.7 percent of all exported goods, translating to substantial trade surpluses for Namibia. South Africa ranked second, receiving 21.9 percent of exports. Botswana (8.9 percent), Zambia (9.7 percent), and Spain (4.5 percent) completed the top five export markets. This market diversification occurred alongside a slight reduction in the number of export destinations, down to 98 countries in April from 104 in March 2025. On the import side, South Africa remained Namibia’s dominant supplier, accounting for 35.2 percent of the N$12.9 billion import bill. India followed as the second-largest source of imports (16.1 percent), with China (10.1 percent), Zambia (9.4 percent), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (3.1 percent) comprising the rest of the top five. Imports originated from 152 countries.
Analysis by economic bloc revealed the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) as the largest collective export market, absorbing 31.9 percent of Namibia’s exports in April 2025. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) was a close second, accounting for 31.7 percent. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries held a 19.6 percent share, followed by SADC excluding SACU (12.4 percent) and the European Union (11.7 percent). For imports, SACU was the primary source region, contributing 35.9 percent of all goods entering Namibia. BRIC supplied 27.3 percent, the OECD 18.0 percent, the EU 11.1 percent, and SADC excluding SACU 8.0 percent. Namibia recorded significant trade surpluses with China (N$2.0 billion), Botswana (N$1.0 billion), and Zambia (N$461 million), while facing deficits with South Africa (N$2.1 billion), India (N$2.0 billion), and Oman (N$340 million). Petroleum oils were the largest contributor to the import bill (N$2.89 billion, 22.4 percent) and consequently the biggest driver of the trade deficit (N$2.5 billion deficit for this commodity alone). Motor vehicles for commercial purposes and passenger vehicles followed as significant import items and deficit contributors.
Sectorally, the mining and quarrying industry dominated exports, generating N$5.4 billion (49.0 percent of total exports) and showing a N$1.2 billion increase from March. Manufacturing exports, though significant at N$5.3 billion (48.3 percent), experienced a monthly decline of N$291 million. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing contributed a modest N$253 million (2.3 percent). Conversely, imports were heavily skewed towards manufactured goods, with this sector accounting for N$8.6 billion of imports (a 5.2 percent decrease month-on-month), followed by mining and quarrying imports of N$4.0 billion (a 23.0 percent increase).
Logistics played a crucial role, with sea transport handling the majority of exports (55.5 percent, valued at N$6.1 billion), primarily moving uranium, fish, and ores. Air transport followed (26.9 percent), crucial for high-value goods like non-monetary gold and diamonds, while road transport accounted for 17.6 percent. For imports, road transport was dominant (57.4 percent, N$7.4 billion), carrying items like nickel ores and vehicles. Sea transport brought in 39.4 percent of imports, chiefly petroleum oils and ores, and air transport 3.2 percent. Walvis Bay Harbour was the primary gateway, facilitating N$5.6 billion in exports and receiving N$5.0 billion in imports.
Within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) context, Namibia recorded intra-Africa trade worth N$4.9 billion in exports and N$5.8 billion in imports during April 2025, resulting in an intra-Africa trade deficit of N$853 million. South Africa was the leading destination for intra-Africa exports (48.9 percent), followed by Botswana (22.2 percent) and Zambia (18.3 percent). South Africa was also the primary source of intra-Africa imports (78.9 percent), with Zambia (8.3 percent) and the DRC (7.0 percent) next. Key intra-Africa exports included non-monetary gold, diamonds, and fish.
Namibia maintained its position as a net exporter of food items, achieving a surplus of N$548 million in April 2025, largely driven by fish exports valued at N$1.33 billion (78.4 percent of the food export basket). Meat contributed N$235 million (13.6 percent). Conversely, the country was a net importer of beverages, recording a deficit of N$188 million. Beverage imports averaged N$320 million over the past year, while exports averaged N$118 million. An analysis of coffee trade, highlighted as the commodity of the month, revealed Namibia imported N$12.4 million worth of coffee, mainly from South Africa and Switzerland, while exporting a modest N$14,629 worth, primarily to Angola and South Africa.
Cumulatively, the first four months of 2025 saw Namibia’s exports reach N$41.9 billion, surpassing the N$35.4 billion recorded over the same period in 2024. Cumulative imports stood at N$51.2 billion, higher than the N$49.1 billion registered in the January-April period of 2024. This positive trajectory, anchored by the N$11.0 billion April export figure and the improved trade balance, signals resilience in Namibia’s external trade sector, heavily reliant on mineral wealth but also benefiting from stable fish exports, while navigating the challenges of dependence on imported fuel and manufactured goods.