Rail remains the least popular trade route
NDAMA NAKASHOLE
The value of products that left Namibia by rail declined in the first quarter of 2018.
Last week’s trade data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) showed that rail, which is already the least popular mode of transportation of Namibian exports, realised a decline, making it the only mode of transport that did not see an increase in terms of percentage share of total exports during that period, compared to the same quarter a year ago.
Namibia’s total exports increased by N$3.2 billion to N$18.8 billion in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the same quarter a year ago.
The other modes of transport for Namibian exports - sea, road and air – all recorded increases in their share value of exports.
The numbers
Only N$3 million of the country’s exports were transported by rail in the first quarter of 2018. This is three times less than the value of exports by rail during the same quarter a year ago, when the value of the country’s total exports was less.
Imports
In contrast, the value of imports that entered the Namibian market by rail was more than double that of the same quarter a year ago.
The value of Namibia’s imports during the first quarter of 2018 was estimated at N$27.1 billion, making the country’s trade deficit rise to over N$8 billion during the period under review.
Despite the rise in the value of imports transported by rail compared to the first quarter of 2017, rail-transported imports still accounted for only 0.1% of the total imports, as it did during the same period a year ago when imports were lower.
Road, sea and air remained the most popular modes of transport for Namibian imports.
Road transportation accounted for the largest share of imports, and sea transport for the smallest, in the first quarter of 2018, the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2017.
Fewer products (N$3 billion less) came into the country by air compared to the first quarter of 2017. This is despite the fact that the country’s imports during the period under review were much higher.
The value of products that left Namibia by rail declined in the first quarter of 2018.
Last week’s trade data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) showed that rail, which is already the least popular mode of transportation of Namibian exports, realised a decline, making it the only mode of transport that did not see an increase in terms of percentage share of total exports during that period, compared to the same quarter a year ago.
Namibia’s total exports increased by N$3.2 billion to N$18.8 billion in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the same quarter a year ago.
The other modes of transport for Namibian exports - sea, road and air – all recorded increases in their share value of exports.
The numbers
Only N$3 million of the country’s exports were transported by rail in the first quarter of 2018. This is three times less than the value of exports by rail during the same quarter a year ago, when the value of the country’s total exports was less.
Imports
In contrast, the value of imports that entered the Namibian market by rail was more than double that of the same quarter a year ago.
The value of Namibia’s imports during the first quarter of 2018 was estimated at N$27.1 billion, making the country’s trade deficit rise to over N$8 billion during the period under review.
Despite the rise in the value of imports transported by rail compared to the first quarter of 2017, rail-transported imports still accounted for only 0.1% of the total imports, as it did during the same period a year ago when imports were lower.
Road, sea and air remained the most popular modes of transport for Namibian imports.
Road transportation accounted for the largest share of imports, and sea transport for the smallest, in the first quarter of 2018, the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2017.
Fewer products (N$3 billion less) came into the country by air compared to the first quarter of 2017. This is despite the fact that the country’s imports during the period under review were much higher.
Kommentaar
Republikein
Geen kommentaar is op hierdie artikel gelaat nie