WINDHOEK, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibia closed 2025 with a markedly improved trade position, as stronger mineral exports and a sharp decline in imports helped narrow the country's trade deficit in December, according to the latest trade statistics released Tuesday by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
NSA Statistician General Alex Shimuafeni said the southern African country recorded a trade deficit of 393 million Namibian dollars (about 24.6 million U.S. dollars) in December, a major improvement from the 4.4-billion Namibian dollar deficit registered in November.
The year-end outcome also compared favorably with December 2024, when Namibia posted a trade surplus, he added.
According to Shimuafeni, exports rose 7.5 percent month on month to 10.7 billion Namibian dollars, while imports declined 22.9 percent to 11.1 billion dollars, reflecting reduced spending on key imported goods.
For the full year, Namibia's cumulative exports increased to 125.7 billion Namibian dollars, up from 116.8 billion dollars in 2024, while cumulative imports declined to 150.7 billion dollars from 158.5 billion dollars, pointing to an overall improvement in the country's external trade position in 2025, the statistics agency said.
Export performance in December was driven largely by mining commodities, with non-monetary gold, diamonds, and uranium remaining the main contributors to export earnings, it said, adding that non-mineral exports, including fish, fruit, and nuts, also supported export growth, aided by seasonal agricultural output.
The sharp decline in imports was mainly attributed to lower purchases of petroleum oils, fertilizers, industrial machinery, and manufactured metal products, easing pressure on the trade balance toward the end of the year.
South Africa remained Namibia's largest trading partner for both exports and imports in 2025, with China, Botswana, Zambia, and the Netherlands among key export destinations, and China, India, Oman, and Zambia among the main sources of imports, the agency said.
Trade with Africa strengthened in December, with Namibia recording a 502-million-Namibian-dollar surplus as exports to the continent exceeded imports, and intra-African trade accounting for more than half of total exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area. ■