By Masheke Akashambatwa ZAMBIA–UAE TRADE: THE NUMBERS DESERVE AN EXPLANATION As President Hakainde Hichilema heads to the UAE on official business, there is an important trade question worth asking: For every commodity the UAE says it imported from Zambia, what does Zambia say it exported to the UAE—by HS code, quantity and value? The 2024 […]

By Masheke Akashambatwa

ZAMBIA–UAE TRADE: THE NUMBERS DESERVE AN EXPLANATION

As President Hakainde Hichilema heads to the UAE on official business, there is an important trade question worth asking:

For every commodity the UAE says it imported from Zambia, what does Zambia say it exported to the UAE—by HS code, quantity and value?

The 2024 mirror-trade statistics raise some interesting questions.

Zambia reported roughly US$400 million in exports to the UAE, while UAE data recorded about US$1.64 billion in imports from Zambia—a gap of approximately US$1.24 billion.

Gold is particularly striking. Zambia’s statistics show only about US$6.6 million in gold exports to the UAE, while UAE statistics report approximately US$1.49 billion in gold imports from Zambia.

Precious and semi-precious stones show another difference: approximately US$7.3 million reported by Zambia versus US$61.7 million reported by the UAE.

Interestingly, copper goes the other way: Zambia reported about US$244 million exported to the UAE, while the UAE recorded about US$82 million imported from Zambia.

This is why these numbers should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of smuggling or unreported exports. Mirror statistics can differ because of transit countries, international commodity traders, re-exports, timing, valuation methods and differences between country of origin and final destination.

But a US$1.24 billion overall discrepancy—particularly the enormous difference in gold—deserves reconciliation.

Rather than speculate, Zambia should publish a simple comparison:

🇿🇲 Zambia’s recorded exports
vs.
🇦🇪 UAE’s recorded imports

Commodity by commodity. HS code by HS code. Quantity by quantity. Dollar by dollar.

As Zambia deepens economic relations with the UAE, transparency should accompany growing trade.

The question is simple: What explains the mirror-trade gap, particularly in gold?

That’s not an accusation. It’s a legitimate economic question that deserves an answer.

#UAE #Trade #Zambia #HH #Sheik