Zambian tobacco a hit in Namibia

NDAMA NAKASHOLEAs the world marks the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday, Zambian tobacco producers have found a niche in the Namibian market, as imports surged by over 600% in 2017.The value of tobacco products imported from Zambia grew by a massive 643% in 2017, making it the second largest import by value from that country after blister copper.Annual trade statistics show that tobacco and tobacco products worth N$171 million entered Namibia from Zambia in 2017. This was more than seven times the value of tobacco imports from that country the previous year (N$23 million in 2016).The 643% increase meant that tobacco last year accounted for 4% of all imports from Zambia, second only to copper which made up 92% of total Zambian imports to Namibia. In 2016, tobacco products formed only 1% of total imports from Zambia.The huge increase means that tobacco managed to surpass animal fodder imports, whose value nevertheless increased by 61% in 2017.Tobacco also ate into the share of the main Zambian import, which is blister copper. Although the value of copper imported from Zambia went up from N$3.88 billion in 2016 to N$3.89 billion in 2017, its share of the total imports dropped by four percentage points.Total imports from Zambia stood at N$4.22 billion in 2017, an increase from N$4.05 billion in 2016.Market shareZambia was one of Namibia’s main trading partners in 2017, being in both in the top ten export and top ten import destinations for Namibia. In 2017, Namibia recorded a N$1.7 billion trade deficit with Zambia.Because of the tobacco boost, Zambia was one of three key countries whose exports to Namibia grew in 2017 – the others being China and Bulgaria.Imports from two other major trading partners - Botswana and South Africa - dropped.The largest growth was in the value of imports from Bulgaria, mostly copper ore. “The 4% growth observed in imports from Zambia was mostly pronounced in the value of tobacco and animal fodder, which grew by 643% and 61% respectively,” says the NSA.Winning tradeSome of the imported tobacco products could have been intended for re-export. According to the trade statistics, tobacco and tobacco products worth N$172 million were re-exported to Belgium in 2017. Thursday is World No Tobacco Day. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) website, this year’s celebrations will advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Zambian tobacco a hit in Namibia

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