MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN APRIL 2013€¦ · MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN APRIL 2013 7 Chart 2 Top Seven Trading Partners Table 1 Top ﬁ ve exports 2.1 Trade by key

MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN APRIL 2013 1

MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN

APRIL 2013


Mission, Vision and Core Values

MISSION STATEMENT“In a coordinated manner we produce and disseminate relevant, quality and timely statis-tics that are fit-for-purpose in accordance with international standards and best practice”

VISION STATEMENT“Be a high performance institution in statistics delivery”

CORE VALUESPerformance

IntegrityService focusTransparency

AccuracyPartnership


Preface

Foreign trade plays an important role in a nation’s economy. Planners, traders and development economists focus on trade policies and the formulation of trade strategies.

Foreign trade statistics measures values and quantities of goods that, by moving into or out of a country, add or subtract from a na-tion’s material stock of goods. Foreign trade statistics are essential for the formulation of monetary, fiscal, commercial and regional integration policies. Moreover, in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), reliable import statistics are crucial when it comes to revenue sharing among member states.

Since Namibia’s independence, government policy has been to develop, promote and diversify the country’s exports. As well as to expand and consolidate market shares of existing markets, penetrate new markets and to reduce the over reliance on imports from one or two main trading partners. Prior to independence, trade flow between Namibia and the rest of the world was not indepen-dently recorded. Since 1991, positive developments have taken place, both in the particulars recorded and the methods of recording. Computerization of procedures at the Directorate of Customs and Excise (C&E) has continued to enhance the timely dissemination and analysis of trade statistics through prompt transfer of captured trade data at Customs to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

This bulletin presents the first publication on monthly trade data; April 2013 with the first table presenting trade data on monthly basis for April 2012/2013.

John SteytlerStatistician-General


Table of Contents1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. TRADE BALANCE 6

2.1 TRADE BY KEY MARKETS 7

2.2 TOP EXPORTS 8

2.3 TOP IMPORTS 9

2.4 TOP EXPORTS BY MODE OF TRANSPORT 9

2.5 TOP IMPORT BY MODE OF TRANSPORT 11

3. CONCLUSION 13

4. LIST OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 14

5. APPENDIX 15

Table of tablesTABLE 1 TOP FIVE EXPORTS 9

TABLE 2 TOP IMPORT PRODUCTS 9

TABLE 3 EXPORTS BY PRODUCT AND MODE OF TRANSPORTS 10

TABLE 4 IMPORTS BY PRODUCT AND MODE OF TRANSPORT 12

TABLE 5 EXPORTS TO KEY MARKETS AND PRODUCTS 15

TABLE 6 IMPORTS FROM KEY MARKETS BY PRODUCTS 16

Table of chartsCHART 1 MONTHLY TRADE BALANCE 7

CHART 2 TOP SEVEN TRADING PARTNERS 8


1. IntroductionThe mandate of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) is to produce and disseminate relevant, quality and timely statistics. This includes statistics relating to imports and exports. This report presents a summary of trade sta-tistics in terms of imports and exports of merchandise goods for the month of April 2013.

Foreign trade statistics derived from records of trade flows across international borders are essential for the formulation of commercial, fiscal and monetary policies of any country. The basic information for the compi-lation of trade statistics is collected and /or captured based on import/export declarations made by traders.

2. Trade BalanceNamibia’s total exports amounted to N$4.5 billion, while N$4.8 billion worth of imports was recorded in April 2013; this resulted into a trade deficit of N$0.3 billion.

The trade deficit narrowed by 62.0 percent to N$0.3 billion in April 2013 from N$0.9 billion one month earlier, it also narrowed by 55.2 percent from N$0.7 billion in the corresponding month of the preceding year. The deficit became smaller because of stronger exports and weaker imports.

Weak expenditure on imports was the main determinant towards narrowing the trade deficit. It recorded a strong decline of 11.1 percent in April 2013 compared to the previous month and 4.0 percent growth com-pared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. Therefore, a narrow trade deficit can be attributed to a strong decline in imports for April 2013 compared to a month earlier. The strong decline in imports can largely be attributed to a decrease in imports of Tugs and pusher crafts, Floating production platforms, Copper cathodes, Maize and Cigarettes. There was a recorded slower growth of 100 percent for both Tugs and pusher crafts; and Floating production platforms. Copper cathodes, Maize and Cigarettes recorded slow growth of 64.2 percent, 24.8 percent and 10.0 percent respectively.

Export earnings recorded a slower growth of 1.5 percent in April 2013 compared to a month earlier and an increased growth of 15.0 percent in comparison to the corresponding period of the preceding year. Therefore, a narrow trade deficit can be attributed to a strong growth in exports for April 2013, compared to the same month in 2012. The strong growth in export earnings was mainly caused by Zinc ores and concentrates, Copper cathodes, Copper ores and concentrate. Zinc recorded an increase of 180.2 percent, 78.6 percent, 61.6 percent and 61.5 percent respectively.

Chart 1 Monthly Trade Balance

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500

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1,500

Value (N

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Chart 2 Top Seven Trading Partners

Table 1 Top fi ve exports

2.1 Trade by key marketsNamibia’s top fi ve export desti nati ons accounted for a total share of 54.2 per cent of its total exports. Major ex-port markets were Botswana (N$0.6 billion), South Africa (N$0.6 billion) and China (N$0.5 billion) accounti ng for 14.3 percent, 13.1 percent and 10.1 percent respecti vely. Switzerland and Angola contributed a combined share of 16.7 percent share to Namibia’s total exports.

During the month of April 2013, Botswana was the top export desti nati on, which is a shift from RSA that had always maintained been Namibia’s top trading partner in both exports and imports. On the other hand South Africa maintained its premier positi on as the top market for imports to the value of N$0.37 million represent-ing 77.0 percent of Namibia’s total imports, Export Processing Zone and China occupied second and third places with values amounti ng to N$0.24 billion and N$0.16 billion representi ng 4.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent of total imports, respecti vely. Tanzania and Switzerland also recorded signifi cant shares of imports of 2.5 percent and 1.4 percent respecti vely, as illustrated by chart 2.

Appendix 1 and 2 provides detailed informati on regarding the desti nati on and origin of key products for April 2013 while chart 2 shows the top seven trading partners by total trade.

2.2 Top ExportsThe table below demonstrate how a mere fi ve products made up 75.3 percent of total export revenue in April 2013. Major export products include Precious stones (diamonds etc.), Ores, and Fish accounti ng for 26.6 per cent, 23.6 percent, and 15.6 per cent of total exports, respecti vely during the month of April. Zinc and Copper contributed 4.7 and 4.5 per cent to Namibia’s total exports.

RSA46%

Export Processing Zone3%

China7%Tanzania

1%

Switzerland5%

Botswana7%

Angola3%

Other countries28%

HS code and Description Value (N$ m) %71: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 1,198 26.626: Ores 1,076 23.903: Fish 702 15.679: Zinc and articles thereof 212 4.774: Copper and articles thereof 203 4.5Other Products 1,105 24.6TOTAL 4,495 100.0


2.3 Top ImportsNamibia’s five major imports, as listed in the table below, accounted for 49 percent of total imports in April 2013. Major import products include Vehicles, Mineral fuels and Boilers accounting for 13.0 per cent, 12.7 per-cent, and 10.8 percent of total import, respectively. Electrical machinery and Precious stones accounted for a combined share of 12.5 percent of total imports to Namibia as illustrated in table 2.

2.4 Top Exports by mode of transportNamibia exports for April 2013 were mostly transported via sea, air and road which accounted for 43.0 per-cent, 22.0 percent and 10.0 percent of total exports respectively.

Top exports include fish worth N$0.5 billion transported via sea, this accounts for a share of 74.1 percent of to-tal fish exports, while 22.4 per cent, 2.1 percent and 1.3 percent was transported via road, air and multimodal, respectively. Subsequent to this, exports of Ores worth N$1.07 billion was transported via sea, this represent a 100 percent share of total exports of Ores. Air dominated the transportation of Precious stones (Diamonds) with a share of 81.1 percent of total exports of Precious stones transported via air, the remainder 18.9 percent was transported via road.

Sea transport played a major role in conveying exports of Copper and Zinc, it accounts for a share of 98.7 per-cent of total exports of Copper and 65.6 percent of total exports of Zinc. The reminder, a share of 1.5 percent of total exports of copper was transported by road, while 34.5 percent of total Zinc export was also transported via road. This shows that sea and road transport plays a key role in the transportation of exports from Namibia.

Table 3 shows the top five export products and the respective routes they were transported with from Namibia.

Table 2 Top Import Products

HS and commodity descriptions Value (N$ m) %87: Vehicles 624 13.027: Mineral (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) 613 12.784: Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 518 10.885: Electrical machinery, equipment and parts thereof 334 6.971: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 269 5.6Other Products 2,460 51.1Total 4,818 100.0


2.5 Top Import by mode of transportDuring the period under review, road, sea and air accounted for a share of 29 percent, 17 percent and 13 per-cent of total imports transported.

Sea transport accounted for 90 percent share of total imports of Mineral fuels while road and rail transport accounted for 9.9 percent and 0.1 percent of total imports of Mineral fuels respectively.

Contrary to exports, road dominated the transportation of imported precious stones (diamonds etc.) account-ing for a share of 92.6 percent, while air accounted for 7.4 percent of total imports of Precious stones.

Imported Boilers were mainly transported by road, accounting for 62.1 percent of total Boilers imported; the remaining 26.8 percent and 10.9 percent share was transported by sea and road, respectively. Imported Elec-trical machinery was transported mostly by road and sea’ accounting for 47.6 percent and 27 percent share of total Electrical machinery imported. Air accounted for 25.3 percent residue share of total imports of Electrical machinery.

Road accounted for 97.4 percent of total imports of Vehicles while 2.1 percent of total Vehicles imported were transported via sea.

Table 3 Exports by product and mode of transports

HS code and Description Transport mode Value (N$ m) %Precious stones (diamonds etc.) Air 972 81.1

Road 226 18.9 Total 1,198 100.0

Ores Sea 1,076 100.0 Total 1,076 100.0

Fish Sea 520 74.1 Road 157 22.4 Air 15 2.1 Multimodal 9 1.3

Total 702 100.0

Copper and articles thereof Sea 200 98.7 Road 3 1.5

Total 203 100.0

Zinc and articles thereof Sea 139 65.6 Road 73 34.2

Total 212 100.0


Table 4 Imports by product and mode of transport

HS and commodity description Transport mode Value NAD %Minerals (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) Sea 552 90.0

Road 61 9.9Total 613 100.0

Precious stones (diamonds etc.) Road 249 92.6Air 20 7.4

Total 269 100.0

Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Sea 139 26.8Rail 1 0.3Road 321 62.1Air 56 10.9

Total 518 100.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof Sea 90 27.0Road 159 47.6Air 85 25.3

Total 334 100.0

Vehicles Sea 13 2.1Rail 1 0.2Road 608 97.4Air 2 0.3

Total 624 100.0


3. ConclusionDuring the month of April 2013, Namibia’s total exports amounted to N$4.5 billion, while imports were N$4.8 billion.

Major exported commodities were: Precious stones (diamonds etc.), Uranium ores, Fish, Zinc and Copper. On the other hand, major imports were: Vehicles, Mineral fuels, Boilers and Electrical machinery.

A trade deficit of N$0.3 billion was recorded in April 2013 representing a decrease of 55.2 percent in compari-son to the corresponding month of the preceding year.

During the period under review, Namibia’s key export markets were Botswana, South Africa, China, Switzerland and Angola.Namibia’s key import markets were South Africa, Export Processing Zone, China, Tanzania and Switzerland.

Namibia continues to rely heavily on road and sea as major modes of transport for imports and sea and air transport for exports.


4. List of Terms and DefinitionsExport Processing Zone (EPZ): An Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is a Customs area where one is allowed to import machinery, equipment and material for the manufacture of export goods under security, without pay-ment of duty. The imported goods are subject to customs control at importation, through the manufacturing process, to the time of sale/export, or duty payment for home consumption.

Trade Balance: The commercial balance or net exports (sometimes symbolized as NX), is the difference be-tween the monetary value of exports and imports of output in an economy over a certain period.

Trade Deficit: Is an economic measure of a negative trade balance in which a country’s imports exceeds its exports.

Trade Surplus: Is an economic measure of a positive trade balance in which a country’s exports exceeds its imports.


5. AppendixTable 5 Exports to key markets and products

Value (N$ m) %87: Vehicles 95,195 30.394: Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions etc. 29,393 9.484: Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 25,546 8.185: Electrical machinery, equipment and parts thereof 18,780 6.025: Salt, sulphur; earths and stones 14,115 4.5Other Products 131,248 41.8Total 314,277 100.0

Value (N$ m) %71: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 598,304 93.427: Mineral (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) 21,212 3.387: Vehicles 7,280 1.116: Preparation of meats (fish, crustaceans, mollusc & other aquatic invertebrates) 4,559 0.786: Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-‐stock and parts thereof 2,370 0.4Other Products 6,663 1.0Total 640,389 100.0

Value (N$ m) %26: Ores 441,812 96.023: Animal fodder. 8,884 1.925: Salt, sulphur; earths and stones 7,337 1.641: Raw hides and skins (other then furskins) and leather 1,992 0.403: Fish 112 0.0Other Products 197 0.0Total 460,333 100.0

Value (N$ m) %01: Live animals 101,179 17.203: Fish 92,666 15.722: Beverages, spirits and vinegar 87,256 14.802: Meat and edible meat offal 73,033 12.471: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 65,640 11.1Other Products 170,018 28.8Total 589,792 100.0

Angola

Botswana

China

South Africa

HS Code and Description




Value (N$ m) %87: Vehicles 95,195 30.394: Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions etc. 29,393 9.484: Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 25,546 8.185: Electrical machinery, equipment and parts thereof 18,780 6.025: Salt, sulphur; earths and stones 14,115 4.5Other Products 131,248 41.8Total 314,277 100.0

Value (N$ m) %71: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 598,304 93.427: Mineral (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) 21,212 3.387: Vehicles 7,280 1.116: Preparation of meats (fish, crustaceans, mollusc & other aquatic invertebrates) 4,559 0.786: Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-‐stock and parts thereof 2,370 0.4Other Products 6,663 1.0Total 640,389 100.0

Value (N$ m) %26: Ores 441,812 96.023: Animal fodder. 8,884 1.925: Salt, sulphur; earths and stones 7,337 1.641: Raw hides and skins (other then furskins) and leather 1,992 0.403: Fish 112 0.0Other Products 197 0.0Total 460,333 100.0

Value (N$ m) %01: Live animals 101,179 17.203: Fish 92,666 15.722: Beverages, spirits and vinegar 87,256 14.802: Meat and edible meat offal 73,033 12.471: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 65,640 11.1Other Products 170,018 28.8Total 589,792 100.0

Angola

Botswana

China

South Africa






Value (N$ m) %90: Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, medical or surgical instruments 174 39.776: Aluminium and articles thereof 149 34.082: Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks 55 12.699: Used personal effects, etc. 25 5.781: Other base metals; cements; articles thereof 12 2.8Other Products 23 5.2Total 439 100.0

HS Code and DescriptionSwitzerland

Table 6 Imports from key markets by products

Value (N$ m) %87: Vehicles 599,625 16.227: Minerals (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) 434,497 11.784: Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 423,644 11.485: Electrical machinery, equipment and parts thereof 193,999 5.273: Articles of iron or steel 188,472 5.1Other Products 1,869,989 50.4Total 3,710,226 100.0

Value (N$ m) %71: Precious stones (diamonds etc.) 232,894 99.187: Vehicles 1,697 0.776: Aluminium and articles thereof 186 0.140: Rubber and articles thereof 124 0.182: Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks 112 0.0Other Products 54 0.0Total 235,066 100.0

Value (N$ m) %27: Minerals (fuels, oils and products of their distillations) 117,504 99.084: Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 968 0.873: Articles of iron or steel 187 0.262: Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 19 0.087: Vehicles 17 0.0Other Products 33 0.0Total 118,727 100.0

HS Code and DescriptionSouth Africa

HS Code and DescriptionExport Processing Zone

HS Code and DescriptionTanzania

Value (N$ m) %26: Ores 299,819 69.174: Copper and articles thereof 127,349 29.479: Zinc and articles thereof 4,848 1.141: Raw hides and skins (other then furskins) and leather 1,005 0.228: Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds 640 0.1Other Products 108 0.0Total 433,769 100.0

SwitzerlandHS Code and Description


NOTES


NOTES

P.O.Box 2133FGI House, Post Street MallWindhoek, NamibiaTel: +264 61 431 3200Fax: +264 61 431 3253 | +264 61 431 3240Website: www.nsa.org.na

Documents

MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN APRIL 2013€¦ · MONTHLY TRADE STATISTICS BULLETIN APRIL 2013 7 Chart 2 Top Seven Trading Partners Table 1 Top ﬁ ve exports 2.1 Trade by key