Namibia’s Mining Production Composite Index rose by 6.4% in May 2025, recovering from a sharp contraction of 11.8% in April, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The monthly increase was largely driven by higher output of zinc concentrate and contained, gold bullion, and diamonds, although uranium production declined during the same period.
Overall, the 6.4% month-on-month growth and a 32.8% year-on-year increase point to a positive trend for the mining sector in mid-2025.
Production of zinc concentrate and contained rose by 12.1% in May, reversing a steep 45.2% drop in April. On an annual basis, the index registered a slight increase of 0.2%.
Gold bullion output grew by 11.5% in May, following a 9.8% decline the previous month. Year-on-year, the gold production index rose by 15.8%, the NSA noted.
Diamond production increased by 10.8% in May, after falling by 17.3% in April. Compared to May 2024, diamond output surged by 51.0%.
The recovery in zinc, gold and diamond production suggests improved operational performance and potentially stronger demand in global markets.
Uranium was the only commodity in the index to record a monthly decline. Output fell by 8.9% in May, reversing the 9.7% growth seen in April. Despite this drop, uranium production was still 14.1% higher than a year earlier.
The rebound in mining activity is notable, given the sector’s critical role in the Namibian economy. However, the decline in uranium output highlights ongoing challenges within that segment, despite its annual gains.
