Non-traditional exports earnings hit K4.4bn

Agricultural products accounted for a share of 29.8 percent of the country’s NTEs in March this year compared to 25.6 percent the previous month, according to Zambia Statistics Agency (Zamstats) interim Statistician General, Mulenga Musepa.

Mr Musepa explained that export earnings from agricultural products increased by 38.4 percent to K1.3 billion in March 2022 from K1.0 billion in February 2022.

He indicated that the major export commodities were oil-cake of soya-bean and tobacco, not stemmed/ stripped accounting for 11.5 percent.

Mr Musepa stated that non-agricultural products accounted for a share of 70.2 percent of Zambia’s NTEs in March 2022 compared to 74.4 percent the previous month.

He said export earnings from non-agricultural products recorded an increase of 12.2 percent to K3.1 billion in March this year from K2.8 billion the previous month.

“The major export commodities were electrical energy, other non-alcoholic beverages and Portland cement accounting for 6.0 per cent,” Mr Musepa said.

He said the major NTEs destinations in March, 3033 was the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which accounted for 38.3 per cent of the total NTEs earnings.

South Africa was the second main destination accounting for 10.9 percent of the total NTE earnings

Mr Musepa indicated that China was the third main destination accounting for 9.9 percent of the total NTEs earnings. Zimbabwe was the fourth main destination followed by Namibia. He said these five countries collectively accounted for 72.0 percent of Zambia’s total NTE earnings in March, 2022.