Namibia’s mining and quarrying sector contracted by 3.1% in real value added in the second quarter of 2026, extending its downturn to a third consecutive quarter as uranium, metal ores and diamond mining recorded weaker performances.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), the sector was the largest negative contributor to the country’s economic performance during the quarter, subtracting 0.3 percentage points from overall GDP growth of 4.8%.
The 3.1% contraction follows declines of 7.1% in the first quarter of 2026 and 26.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the second quarter of 2025, the sector contracted by 3.0%.
“The Mining and quarrying sector continued with poor performance during the quarter under review, recording a decline of 3.1 percent in real value added, compared to a negative growth of 3.0 percent observed in the corresponding quarter of 2025,” the NSA said.
“The poor performance of the sector is primarily ascribed to the subsectors of Uranium mining, Diamond mining and Metal ores.”
Uranium mining contracted by 12.0%, reversing growth of 43.6% recorded in the second quarter of 2025, with the NSA attributing the decline to lower uranium ore production.
Metal ore mining contracted by 20.1%, worsening from a 13.5% decline in the corresponding quarter last year. The weaker performance was attributed to reduced production of gold, copper and manganese.
Diamond mining also remained under pressure, contracting by 0.2%, compared with a 4.5% decline in the second quarter of 2025.
The NSA attributed the diamond subsector’s performance to reduced production amid persistent weakness in global demand and tariffs affecting international demand and diamond prices.
Other mining and quarrying, however, expanded by 12.9%, reversing a 28.0% contraction recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025. The improvement was driven by increased granite and marble production.
“On the other hand, other mining and quarrying subsectors registered a growth of 12.9 percent in real value added during the second quarter of 2026, compared to a 28.0 percent decline witnessed in the second quarter of 2025. The performance is attributed to an increase in the production of granite and marble,” the NSA said.
The mining and quarrying sector has now recorded negative growth in seven of the past eight quarters, with the 26.1% contraction recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025 representing the steepest decline over the period.
