Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
Zimbabwe’s value-added exports increased by 34,4 percent during the first four months of 2026, reaching more than US$200 million from US$149 million recorded during the same period last year, latest trade statistics show.
According to data released by ZimTrade based on figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), the growth contributed to a significant rise in national export earnings and a narrowing of the country’s trade deficit.
Cumulative export earnings for the January-April 2026 period surged by 48 percent to US$3,57 billion, up from US$2,41 billion recorded in 2025.
The trade deficit also narrowed from US$582 million to US$295 million over the same period.
ZimTrade said the increase in value-added exports reflects Zimbabwe’s growing shift from raw commodity exports towards higher-value manufactured products.
The growth was largely driven by engineering steel products, whose exports rose by 165,6 percent to US$77,9 million from US$29 million in 2025.
The increase has been attributed to expanded local production capacity, including output from major industrial investments such as Dinson Iron and Steel.
Manufactured tobacco exports also grew by 33,5 percent to US$45,9 million, while building and construction material exports edged up four percent to US$9,5 million.
Exports of sulphates, including alums and peroxosulphates, recorded a notable increase to US$12,6 million in April 2026 from US$357 000 during the same period last year.
ZimTrade attributed the growth to processed lithium exports following the Government’s ban on lithium concentrate exports earlier this year.
The export performance supports targets under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to increase the ratio of value-added exports to total exports from 5,5 percent in 2025 to 18,4 percent by 2030.
The United Arab Emirates remained Zimbabwe’s largest export market, accounting for 50,4 percent of total exports valued at US$1,79 billion.
South Africa ranked second with exports worth US$830 million, while China accounted for US$563 million.
Commenting on Zimbabwe’s recent nomination to the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru said the development would strengthen the country’s export drive.
“The UN Security Council nomination accelerates current trade initiatives aimed at growing exports by elevating Zimbabwe’s profile on the world stage, where commercial negotiations often follow global credibility,” said Majuru.
He said the enhanced international standing would complement ongoing efforts to secure access to new export markets and support Zimbabwe’s broader trade diversification agenda.
