Namibia’s mining sector recorded a downturn in August 2025, with exports falling by N$3.9 billion compared to the previous month, according to the latest trade statistics from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
Despite the decline, mining and quarrying remained the country’s second-largest export sector, contributing 23.8% to total export earnings.
Non-monetary gold was Namibia’s leading export commodity, valued at N$1.62 billion and accounting for 21.1% of the total, mainly destined for South Africa. Uranium ranked third with N$546 million (7.1%), largely exported to China.
Other key exports included ores and concentrates of base metals (N$475 million, 6.2%), copper and articles of copper (N$454 million, 5.9%, mainly re-exports), petroleum oils (N$374 million, 4.9%, re-exported mainly to Botswana), precious stones such as diamonds (N$345 million, 4.5%), nickel ores and concentrates (N$321 million, 4.2%, re-exported mainly to Canada and the UAE), and fertilisers.
“The top 10 traded commodities highlight the country’s dependence on mineral exports, with non-monetary gold and uranium emerging as top export revenue sources, thereby underscoring Namibia’s wealth and opportunities in the extractive industry,” the NSA report stated.
On the other hand, mining-related imports rose significantly to N$3.0 billion, up 23.1% month-on-month.
Petroleum oils topped the list at N$1.95 billion (15.1%), followed by nickel ores and concentrates (N$431 million) and civil engineering and contractors’ equipment (N$427 million).
Other notable imports included ores and concentrates of base metals (N$394 million), precious stones (N$279 million), machinery and equipment (N$245 million), and sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites (N$245 million).
Re-exports also played a significant role, though they fell to N$2.7 billion, representing decreases of 24.4% month-on-month and 8.8% year-on-year.
Copper and articles of copper dominated re-exports at 14.8%, followed by petroleum oils (14.3%), precious stones (12.9%), ores and concentrates of base metals (10.0%), and nickel ores and concentrates (8.1%).
“Even though there are no noticeable transformations, re-exports are proficient in benefiting the intermediate country by rendering services such as sorting, re-packaging, storage, transport and trade facilitation services. This implies that the country’s services sector greatly benefits from activities emanating from re-exports,” the report noted.
By mode of transport, sea carried the largest share of exports at N$3.2 billion (41.6%), mainly comprising uranium and ores.
Road accounted for 31.9%, dominated by fish, petroleum oils and fertilisers, while air transport contributed 26.5%, carrying primarily gold and diamonds. Export volumes totalled 321,650 tonnes, down 2.8% from July and 21.5% year-on-year.
For imports, road transport dominated at N$7.9 billion (61.4%), followed by sea (33.0%) and air (5.6%). Import volumes reached 416,345 tonnes, reflecting monthly and yearly declines of 11.1% and 16.0% respectively.
