Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
MANUFACTURING and mining have once again emerged as the dominant contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing 14 and 15 percent respectively, underlining their critical role as the backbone of the economic structure.
According to the latest quarterly GDP estimates released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) on Wednesday, these two sectors collectively accounted for 30 percent of the country’s total economic output in the third quarter.
The report reveals that mining and quarrying contributed 15,1 percent to the GDP, while manufacturing followed closely at 14,9 percent.
This continued dominance highlights the economy’s reliance on primary production and industrial activity for growth and stability.
The economy, measured by GDP at constant prices, exhibited robust annual growth but more modest quarterly expansion in the period under review.
On a year-on-year basis, the economy grew by 9,64 percent in the third quarter of 2025, a significant acceleration from the 2,28 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2024.
However, the quarter-on-quarter growth rate, which measures economic activity from the second to the third quarter of 2025, was recorded at 0,36 percent.
“This reflects incremental improvements in production and service delivery across several industries, notwithstanding contractions in some,” reads the ZimStat report.
In nominal terms, the GDP at current prices for Q3 2025 stood at ZiG413 billion, up from ZiG392,8 billion in the preceding quarter.
The broad-based recovery was supported by improved production conditions across key industries. The manufacturing sector recorded a strong year-on-year increase of 6,95 percent, rebounding from a near-stagnant growth of 0,13 percent in Q3 2024.
ZimStat attributed this positive performance to increased industrial output.
“Mining and quarrying also posted healthy growth, expanding by 9,87 percent year-on-year, largely reflecting higher production levels recorded in the same period of 2024. The sector also saw a quarterly growth of 1,37 percent,” reads the report.
Other notable performers included construction (15,37 percent year-on-year), electricity production (13,63 percent year-on-year) and finance and insurance (6,51 percent year-on-year).
The agriculture sector showed a recovery from the previous year’s drought, posting a year-on-year growth of 62,7 percent in Q3 2025, a stark turnaround from a contraction of 34,01 percent in Q3 2024.
However, not all sectors shared in the growth. Accommodation and food services contracted sharply by 15,53 percent year-on-year, while arts, entertainment and recreation and activities of households as employers also recorded declines.
ZimStat outlined that the GDP estimates were compiled in line with the 2008 System of National Accounts, using the production approach.
Data was drawn from surveys, administrative records from entities like Zimra, and industry-specific indices.
The agency also highlighted that these quarterly figures are subject to revision.
“Revisions are mainly on account of change in methodology, availability of updated source data, benchmarking and other factors,” read the report.
ZimStat noted recent updates to data for the education, health, and public administration sectors.
The latest data signals economic recovery, with significant annual growth driven largely by a resurgence in agriculture and sustained output from its traditional pillars, mining and manufacturing. While the quarterly sequential growth has moderated, the overall trend remains positive.
Sidumisile Mabena