33% of Zambia’s export earnings are recorded from Asia

According to the latest government data seen […]

According to the latest government data seen by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT Asia, it was the second largest market for Zambia’s exports in June 2026, accounting for 32.9 percent. of export earnings behind leaders Canada, which had 33% as the total export earnings.

 The report indicates that, within the grouping, China was the dominant market with 41.6%, followed by Singapore with 33.3%. Other notable markets in this grouping were the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and India, collectively accounting for 24.2%.

A further check by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT also revealed that the DUAL-SADC & COMESA was the third largest market for Zambia’s exports, accounting for 16.0% of export earnings. Within this grouping, Congo DR was the dominant market with 80.9%, followed by Zimbabwe with 13.3%. Other notable markets within this grouping were Malawi, Mauritius, and Madagascar, collectively accounting for 5.8%.

Additionally, SADC Exclusive Grouping was fourth, accounting for 6.5 percent of export earnings. Within this grouping, South Africa accounted for the largest share with 43.7 percent, followed by Tanzania with 29.4 percent.

 Other notable markets were Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique, collectively accounting for 26.6%. COMESA exclusive was fifth, accounting for 0.8% of export earnings. Within this grouping, Kenya was the dominant market, accounting for 59.3%, followed by Rwanda with 22.4 percent. Other notable markets were Uganda, Burundi, and Ethiopia, collectively accounting for 18.0%.

However, despite Zambia recording positive exports, experts in the field of trading have urged the need to ensure that most of the goods existing in the country are value-added to ensure that Zambia benefits more.

 Earlier the Zambian Business Times-ZBT conducted an interview with Southern Africa Cross Border Trader SACBT Secretary General Jacob Makambwe, who noted that exporters in the country are affected by the appreciation of the Kwacha and emphasized the need to ensure that products are not exported out of the country minus ensuring value addition.

“Exporters are really affected, but in any given market condition there are always opportunities for how the market will balance up in terms of what is exported out of that particular country, and mainly Zambia exports raw materials, which we should not be allowed because of a lack of proper investment machinery to add value to goods that the country needs to export,” said Makambwe.

 He added that the appreciation of Kwacha gives a huge advantage to exporters to import material at a cheaper price and enables them to add value to products they want to export. “If you are into exports, as the kwacha has been gained, you are now able to import goods needed for value addition at a cheaper or affordable rate owing to the factory that the kwacha is now trading at, about K18/US dollar, meaning eventually even other factors of production will slowly reduce,” said Makambwe.

Article by Justine Phiri