Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S trade surplus rocketed 64,5 percent to US$526,5 million in August, as exports surged 14,2 percent while imports remained virtually flat, official figures show.
Latest trade figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) show exports rising to US$1,679 million during the month, from US$1,471 million in July, while imports edged up just 0,2 percent to US$1,152 million.
“The resulting trade balance amounted to a surplus of US$526,5 million, a 64,5 percent increase from the July 2026 surplus of US$320 million,” said the agency.
The sharp improvement in the trade balance was driven largely by the stronger export performance, with mineral commodities accounting for the bulk of the export earnings.
Semi-manufactured gold alone accounted for 44 percent of the total US$1,68 billion export value in August, while other mineral substances accounted for 19,5 percent and ores and concentrates 12 percent.
The three categories, therefore, accounted for a combined 75,5 percent of Zimbabwe’s total exports, underscoring the dominance of mineral products in the country’s export earnings.
The export surge was also concentrated in a handful of markets, with the United Arab Emirates, China and South Africa accounting for about 90 percent of total exports.
“The country’s major export destinations in August 2026 were United Arab Emirates (US$749,6 million), China (US$540,3 million) and South Africa (US$218,3 million).
“The three countries accounted for about 90 percent of the total export value of US$1,68 billion,” ZimStat said.
The UAE was the biggest destination, absorbing exports worth US$749,6 million, followed by China at US$540,3 million and South Africa at US$218,3 million.
Regional markets also reflected the mineral-heavy nature of Zimbabwe’s exports.
Within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), nickel mattes accounted for 48,2 percent of exports, followed by iron and steel products at 9,5 percent, coke and semi-coke of coal at 6,6 percent and other ores and concentrates at 5,4 percent.
The four products accounted for about 70 percent of the US$278,4 million worth of goods exported to SADC.
Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), nickel mattes were also the leading export at 46,8 percent, followed by iron and steel products at 9,2 percent, nickel ores and concentrates at 8,4 percent and tobacco at 6,6 percent.
Together, the four products accounted for 71 percent of Zimbabwe’s US$286,7 million exports under AfCFTA.
Zimbabwe’s exports to the European Union remained heavily concentrated in tobacco and minerals.
Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, accounted for 66,3 percent of exports to the EU, followed by chromium ores and concentrates at 17,2 percent and ferrochromium at 11,3 percent.
The three products accounted for about 95 percent of the US$19,1 million worth of goods exported to the EU.
On the import side, machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products, fertilisers, vehicles and electrical machinery and equipment featured among the leading imports.
Machinery and mechanical appliances accounted for 15,5 percent of the US$1,15 billion import bill, while mineral fuels, mineral oils and products accounted for 22,2 percent. Vehicles and electrical machinery and equipment contributed 6,8 percent and 4,9 percent respectively.
SADC supplied US$568,2 million worth of imports, with machinery and mechanical appliances accounting for 14,6 percent, mineral fuels and related products 9,7 percent, fertilisers eight percent and iron and steel articles 5,9 percent.
Under AfCFTA, machinery and mechanical appliances accounted for 14,2 percent of imports, followed by mineral fuels, mineral oils and products at 9,5 percent, fertilisers at 7,8 percent and iron and steel articles at 5,7 percent.
The figures show that while Zimbabwe continued to rely heavily on imports of fuel, machinery and industrial inputs, the value of goods sold abroad rose much faster in August, widening the trade surplus by US$206,5 million compared with July.
However, the export figures also highlight the concentration of Zimbabwe’s foreign trade, with minerals dominating export earnings and three destinations — the UAE, China and South Africa — taking about nine-tenths of the country’s exports during the month.
