The latest Informal Cross-Border Trade Survey from November 2023 reveals a significant trade surplus of N$7.9 million, with exports totaling N$9 million and imports at N$1.2 million.
The exchange of goods across four Namibian border posts, outside formal trade channels, plays a pivotal but often overlooked role in the country's economy, according to Alex Shimuafeni, the CEO of the Namibia Statistics Agency, during the survey's launch.
The main goal of the Informal Cross-Border Trade Survey is to determine the extent of unrecorded or informal trade between Namibia and its neighbouring countries. The survey was carried out at four Namibian border posts: Oshikango, Katima Mulilo, Omahenene, and Sarasungu.
The report's key findings highlight the scale and scope of this trade, the most commonly traded goods, the demographic profiles of traders, and the challenges they encountered.
"The survey reveals that the total informal trade (exports plus imports) was dominated by male traders, who accounted for 58.3% while the female traders accounted for 41.7%. The total informal trade (exports and imports) amounted to 10.3 million during the month of November 2023. Exports contributed the largest share of total trade at 88.5 percent (9.1 million), while imports accounted for 1.2 million, resulting in trade surpluses of 7.9 million."
Overall, informal trade was primarily dominated by male traders. Men accounted for six million dollars of the total trade, while women traded goods valued at N$4.3 million.
The Oshikango and Katima Mulilo border posts continued to be the main exit points, registering the highest export values.
The total export value reached nine million dollars, with the top five products comprising 34 percent of this amount.
The Oshikango Border Post was the leading export point, accounting for N$4.4 million, which equates to 48.4 percent of the overall export value.
The Katima Mulilo Border Post, located on the Namibia-Zambia border, had the second highest export value during the reviewed period. It represented 31 percent of the total exports, with a value of N$2.8 million.
The Omahenene Border Post ranked third in export values for the reviewed period, with total exports totaling N$1.5 million.
This constitutes 16 percent of the period's total exports.
Exports through the Sarasungu Border Post amounted to N$407,209, marking it as the border post with the lowest export value among those surveyed.
These insights emphasize the economic importance of informal trade and the need for targeted support to sustain and grow this sector.