Online Reporter
Zimpapers Correspondent
ZIMBABWE registered a marked improvement in its trade performance in December 2025, posting notable surplus as exports rose while imports declined, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.
Presenting the December 2025 External Trade Statistics, ZimStat Balance of Payments and Finance Statistics manager Ms Mable Chimhore reported that total exports increased by 9.1 percent to US$1.142 billion, while imports fell by 5.6 percent to US$901.5 million.
“The resulting trade balance amounted to a surplus of US$240.2 million, which is a 163.8 percent increase from the November 2025 surplus of US$91.1 million,” she said.
Export performance during the month was largely driven by mineral and agricultural products. Semi-manufactured gold accounted for 47.3 percent of total exports, followed by tobacco at 17.7 percent and nickel mattes at 16.3 percent. Industrial supplies continued to dominate export composition, making up 95.9 percent of all goods exported.
“The structure of exports shows continued reliance on mineral-based products, particularly gold and nickel, as the country’s main foreign currency earners,” Ms Chimhore noted.
The United Arab Emirates was Zimbabwe’s leading export destination, accounting for 49.9 percent of total export earnings. South Africa followed with 21.6 percent and China accounted for 17.3 percent. The top five export markets together contributed about 91 percent of December’s export earnings.
Regionally, exports to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were led by nickel mattes, which constituted 72.5 percent of shipments to the bloc. Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exports were also driven largely by nickel, tobacco and coal products.
On the import side, Zimbabwe’s bill for December stood at US$901.5 million, down from US$955.2 million in November. The largest import categories were mineral fuels and oils (23 percent), machinery and mechanical appliances (13 percent), and cereals (7 percent).
Industrial supplies accounted for 35.1 percent of imports, while fuels and lubricants made up 22.2 percent — reflecting the economy’s reliance on imported inputs.
South Africa remained the largest source of imports, contributing 38.8 percent, followed by China (15.5 percent) and Bahrain (6.8 percent). The top four source countries accounted for nearly 66 percent of all imports in December.
Ms Chimhore said the improved trade balance offers relief to Zimbabwe’s balance of payments position. However, she cautioned that the heavy concentration of exports in a few primary commodities continues to expose the economy to external shocks, underscoring the need for export diversification and value addition to sustain long-term growth.
The surplus means more foreign currency flowed into the country than flowed out for trade. This can help stabilise the local currency and give the Government and central bank more resources to pay for essential imports like fuel and medicine.
