Source: Monthly exports surpass US$1 billion – herald
Edgar Vhera
ZIMBABWE’S monthly export earnings have surpassed the US$1 billion mark for the first time this year, rising 63 percent from US$884, million in May to US$1,44 billion in June.
Trade statistics from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that the country earned US$557, 8 million more last month than in the previous month.
The highest monthly export receipts were recorded in January at US$969 million.
Among the top products exported in June 2026 were semi-manufactured gold (40,5 percent), nickel mattes (22,2 percent) and other mineral substances (14,4 percent), with the triplets accounting for 77 percent of all exports.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the country’s major export destination after taking in products worth US$583,8 million.
South Africa (SA) came second on US$443, 2 million followed by China with US$304,4 million.
The top three countries accounted for about 92 percent of the total exports.
Export receipts for the first half of the year have shot 52 percent to US$5,89 million from US$3,87 million last year.
UAE (48 percent), SA (25 percent) and China (17 percent) are the top destinations in the first half of this year, with the trio contributing a joint total of 90 percent of the country’s total exports.
Meanwhile, the country’s export earnings are set to expand after Government revealed that Zimbabwe will no longer export raw minerals, warning that the era of consignments leaving the country disguised as “ore” or “concentrates” while containing valuable rare earth minerals was over.
In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, at the 28th edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport Conference (Mine-Entra) in Bulawayo recently, President
Mnangagwa said his Government was determined to accelerate the shift from exporting raw materials to value addition, beneficiation and industrialisation to benefit ordinary Zimbabweans.
The conference ran under the theme: “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains.”
“The days when consignments leave our borders, declared simply as ‘ore’ or ‘concentrates’, meanwhile containing valuable and rare earth minerals are over.
“Corrupt public sector officials and inspectors who turn a blind eye to breaches of our laws, in return for sleazy bribes, will be sternly dealt with,” said President Mnangagwa.
By January 2027, Zimbabwe will only export Lithium Sulphate.
Government has put in place an orderly quota arrangement to ensure no responsible operator is forced to shut down during the transition.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Engineer Polite Kambamura concurred that Government’s reforms, aimed at boosting local value addition, will be sustained to support the growth of local industries.
Apart from minerals, tobacco is another top exporter earner for the country, though much of it is exported raw.
Last year’s tobacco exports reached US$1,45 billion. Government has since crafted the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan 2 (2026-30), which seeks to elevate value addition from 11 to 30 percent by 2030.
The plan seeks to transform the tobacco sector into a US$7 billion industry that not only fuels economic growth but also sustainably enhances the livelihoods of people, in line with the aspirations of our National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2), Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFRTS 2) and Vision 2030.
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