Xifres de comerç exterior de Zàmbia

Foreign Trade in Figures

Zambia is open to foreign trade, which accounts for 69% of the country's GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Zambia's trade policy aims to diversify its economy through privatisation programs and the expansion of its export base. The country mainly exports copper (68.9%), sulphur (2.6%), electrical energy (2.6%), and ferro-alloys (1.9%). As for the country's main imports, they include petroleum oils (5.3%), sulphur (4.3%), mineral or chemical fertilisers (4.3%), copper ores (4.2%), and motor vehicles (3.8% - data Comtrade, 2022).

The country is a member of COMESA and has signed Interim Economic Partnership Agreements (Interim EPAs) with the European Commission. The country became a member of the WTO in 1995. Customs duties are high, but the country has few non-tariff trade barriers. Certain products such as crude oil, medical supplies, and fertilisers are exempt from import duties. However, irregularities in the tax system and high transportation costs are real trade barriers. Zambian products are mainly exported towards Switzerland (38.5%), China (20.7%), Democratic Republic of Congo (13.6%), Pitcairn (12.8%), and Equatorial Guinea (5.4%); whereas imports come chiefly from South Africa (30.0%), Equatorial Guinea (21.2%), China (15.5%), the United Arab Emirates (7.6%), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (7.3% - data Comtrade, 2022).

Zambia's trade balance has been experiencing a structural surplus in recent years. In 2022, exports of goods amounted to USD 11.6 billion, while imports reached USD 9 billion (+15.3% and +40.6% y-o-y, respectively – data WTO). As for services, exports reached USD 933 million, while imports amounted to USD 1.8 billion. The overall trade balance was estimated to be positive by 11.1% of GDP by the World Bank (from 18.2% one year earlier). According to the latest figures available from ZamStat, in the first three quarters of 2023, the country exported USD 8 billion worth of goods against USD 7.6 billion in imports.