Namíbia flag Namíbia: Visió econòmica i política

Xifres de comerç exterior de Namíbia

Foreign Trade in Figures

Namibia is very open to foreign trade, which represents 110% of the country’s GDP (World Bank). Customs duties are low, but some trade barriers remain, including a number of import and export restrictions, mostly on agricultural products. The country's economy is closely linked to that of South Africa, with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. The country is a member of the SACU (Southern African Customs Union) and SADC (Southern African Development Community). Namibia also ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. In 2016, the EU signed an EPA agreement with the SADC EPA Group, which includes Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. According to data by Comtrade, in 2023, the country’s main exports were diamonds (29.4% of the total), gold (11.4%), fish fillets and other fish meat (6.6%), frozen fish (5.3%), petroleum oils (5.2%), and copper ores and concentrates (4.5%); whereas imports were led by petroleum oils (21.2%), diamonds (4.5%), copper ores and concentrates (3.5%), motor vehicles for the transport of goods (1.9%), and motor cars (1.6%).

In 2023, Namibia’s exports were mostly directed towards Botswana (19.3%), South Africa (18.6%), China (12.5%), Zambia (5.6%), Belgium (5.3%), and Spain (5.0%). The main import origin was South Africa (35.7% of total imports), followed by China (8.9%), India (6.7%), the United Arab Emirates (4.3%), and the U.S. (3.4% - data Comtrade).

Namibia’s trade balance is structurally in deficit because of the country’s high demand for high-valued manufactured commodities and machinery, and exports of mainly primary commodities that are of low value, with the exception of diamonds. In 2023, merchandise exports amounted to USD 5.9 billion (+1.7% year-on-year), while imports decreased by 9% and stood at USD 7.1 billion. In the same year, exports of services reached USD 999 million, while imports almost doubled y-o-y to USD 1.9 billion (WTO). Overall, the World Bank estimated the country’s trade deficit at 22.8% of its GDP (from 18.4% one year earlier). According to preliminary figures by Namibia’s Statistics Agency, in 2024, total imports reached NAD 161.5 billion, up from the NAD 136.3 billion recorded during 2023, while cumulative exports totalled NAD 119.0 billion, rising from NAD 103.2 billion in the previous year.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 8,0865,0386,3777,7957,090
Exports of Goods (million USD) 6,2563,8684,4175,8285,930
Imports of Services (million USD) 6277471,0101,0931,973
Exports of Services (million USD) 702684673923999

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 82.976.983.599.1109.6
Trade Balance (million USD) -1,301-940-1,786-1,940-1,636
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -1,225-1,003-2,114-2,064-2,592
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -4.0-15.020.223.022.7
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -8.7-16.6-2.122.914.1
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 46.543.251.658.866.2
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 36.433.732.040.343.4

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 6.30.92.30.71.4
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.14.23.42.52.6

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Member of Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Member of South African Customs Union (SACU)

Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Member of the African, Carribean and Pacific Agreement

Member of the Cotonou Agreement

African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary country

Preferential market access to 34 countries for Namibian products, under the Generalised System of Preferences

Preferential trade agreement with Zimbabwe

Economic partnership agreement signed with the EU in June 2016

 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Botswana 19.3%
South Africa 18.6%
China 12.5%
Zambia 5.6%
Belgium 5.3%
See More Countries 38.6%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
South Africa 35.7%
China 8.9%
India 6.7%
United Arab Emirates 4.3%
Namibia picto information 3.9%
See More Countries 40.4%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

5.5 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted...Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or set (excl. unmounted stones for pick-up styluses, worked stones, suitable for use as parts of meters, measuring instruments or other articles of chapter 90) 29.4%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 11.4%
Fish fillets and other fish meat, whether or not...Fish fillets and other fish meat, whether or not minced, fresh, chilled or frozen 6.6%
Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish...Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304) 5.3%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 5.2%
See More Products 42.1%
7.2 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 21.2%
Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted...Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or set (excl. unmounted stones for pick-up styluses, worked stones, suitable for use as parts of meters, measuring instruments or other articles of chapter 90) 4.5%
Copper ores and concentratesCopper ores and concentrates 3.5%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 1.9%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 1.6%
See More Products 67.3%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

0.9 bn USD of services exported in 2023
40.30%
26.89%
22.88%
4.63%
1.44%
1.42%
1.11%
0.69%
0.45%
0.12%
0.07%
1.8 bn USD of services imported in 2023
76.44%
9.61%
4.34%
3.18%
2.28%
2.21%
0.91%
0.55%
0.39%
0.07%
0.02%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Actualitzacions: May 2025

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