Chamwe Kaira
Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N$5.2 billion in February 2026, reversing the N$198 million surplus recorded in January, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni.
The deficit also widened compared to February 2025, when the country recorded a shortfall of N$2.1 billion.
South Africa remained Namibia’s largest trading partner for both exports and imports.
Shimuafeni said exports were driven by mining products, including non-monetary gold, diamonds, petroleum oils and ores and concentrates of base metals.
He said fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports.
Re-exports declined. They dropped by 26.8% compared to January and by 31.7% compared to February last year. These mainly included petroleum oils, diamonds, base metal ores, nickel ores, and sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites.
Shimuafeni noted that imports were led by petroleum oils, nickel ores and concentrates, commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and civil engineering equipment.
In the food trade category, Namibia recorded a surplus of N$513 million. The country remained a net importer of beverages, with a deficit of N$200 million.
Fish was the main product for the month. Namibia exported fish worth N$1.3 billion, mainly to Zambia, Spain and Italy. Imports of fish stood at N$36 million, mostly from South Africa, Argentina and Chile.
By trading partners, Shimuafeni said Namibia recorded surpluses with Spain at N$286 million, the United Arab Emirates at N$279 million, and Botswana at N$227 million.
Deficits were recorded with South Africa at N$1.8 billion, China at N$925 million, and Bahrain at N$734 million.
By product category, the largest deficits came from petroleum oils at N$1.7 billion, nickel ores and concentrates at N$532 million and commercial vehicles at N$394 million. Shimuafeni said surpluses were recorded in non-monetary gold at N$1.7 billion, fish at N$1.3 billion and diamonds at N$273 million.
