Online Reporter
Nelson Gahadza
Zimpapers Business Hub
GOLD continues to dominate Zimbabwe’s export basket, accounting for 53,6 percent of total shipments in June, followed by tobacco at 5,7 percent and nickel at 4,7 percent.
According to the latest trade statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), exports for June amounted to US$723,5 million, representing a 0,5 percent decrease from the US$727,3 million in May 2025.
The country imported goods valued at US$882 million, resulting in a 2,9 percent increase in the trade deficit to US$158,5 million.
ZimStat finance and balance of payments manager Ms Mable Chimhore, presenting the external trade statistics, said the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and China were the country’s major export destinations, accounting for 54,8 percent, 23,5 percent and 8,3 percent of total exports, respectively.
“These three countries accounted for around 87 percent of the total export value of US$723,5 million,” she said.
On the import side, mineral fuels and mineral oils accounted for 20,5 percent of total imports, followed by machinery and mechanical appliances at 18 percent and cereals at 6,8 percent.
“South Africa, China, Bahrain and the Bahamas were the country’s major import sources, accounting for 25 percent, 15 percent 9,8 percent and 5,3 percent of total imports, respectively,” she said.
According to the figures, exports classified by broad economic category (BEC) show that industrial supplies comprised 92,2 percent of the goods exported in June 2025.
For the imports by BEC, 10,4 percent of the goods imported in June 2025 comprised industrial supplies, followed by the fuels and lubricants category, which accounted for 19.5 percent.
“Among the top 10 products exported in June 2025 were semi-manufactured goods, which accounted for 53,6 percent, nickel, which accounted for 4,7 percent and tobacco 5,7 percent,” said Ms Chimhore.
In the same month, among the top 10 products imported are mineral fuels and mineral oils, accounting for 20,5 percent; machinery and mechanical appliances, 18 percent; cereal, 6,8 percent and vehicles 6,6 percent.
Ms Chimhore said in terms of exports and imports by block, the top 10 products exported into the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in June 2025 were nickel (42 percent), coal and semi-coal (8,8 percent), semi-manufactured gold (7,9 percent) and chromium ores and concentrates (5,8 percent).
“Cereals (9,8 percent), machinery and mechanical appliances (9,3 percent), plastic (8,8 percent) and mineral fuels (7,7 percent) were among the top 10 products imported from SADC in the same month of June 2025,” she said.
Ms Chimhore noted that the top 10 products exported to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were nickel matte, which was 1,6 percent; coal and semi-coal 8,8 percent; semi-manufactured gold 7,8 percent; and chromium ores and concentrates 5,8 percent.
She indicated that in that same month, cereals imported from AfCFTA were 9,6 percent, machinery and mechanical appliances 9,2 percent, plastics 7,9 percent and mineral fuels and oils 7,5 percent.
According to the trade data, major exports to the European union (EU) during the month under review were tobacco, accounting for 30,9 percent; ferrochromium, 25,9 percent; industrial diamonds 24,3 percent and granite, crude or roughly trimmed, merely cut into a spade 10,5 percent.
On the other hand, the major imports from the EU were aircraft, spacecraft, and parts, which accounted for 47,9 percent; miscellaneous chemical products 11,0 percent; machinery and mechanical appliances 10,3 percent; pharmaceutical products 4,7 percent and perfumery and cosmetics or toilet preparations 4,7 percent.
The trade data also shows that the top export products to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) were iron or steel products, which accounted for 18,6 percent; tobacco and cigarettes 18,3 percent; coke and semi-coke or coal 10,5 percent, and generating sets with compression ignition engines 7,9 percent.
In the same month, the country’s imports from COMESA were cereals (23,4 percent), electrical machinery equipment (11,7 percent), salt, sulphur, earth and stone (11,5 percent), and tobacco and manufactured tobacco (11,3 percent).
Economist Mr Malone Gwadu said the dominance of semi-manufactured goods in Zimbabwe’s exports is not surprising, given the country’s rich natural resources.
“However, the decline in exports and increase in imports is a concern, as it may put pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves,” he said.
“He also noted that the concentration of exports in a few key markets, such as the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and China, highlights the need for Zimbabwe to diversify its export markets and reduce its dependence on a few key trading partners.
“The increase in the trade deficit is a worrying trend, and policymakers will need to take steps to address the underlying causes of the deficit, such as increasing domestic production and reducing reliance on imports,” he noted.
