. Kalumbi
By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
SWITZERLAND has continued to be the leading market for Zambia’s metal exports accounting for 44.5 per cent, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has said.
Latest statistics by the CSO indicate that overseas metal exports increased to K3,879.9million in October this year, compared to K3, 737.3million recorded in September, this year.
Switzerland’s main imports from Zambia were cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper representing 91.5 per cent while the second export destination was China accounting for 17.6 per cent of copper blisters exports representing 69.7 per cent.
South Africa was third accounting for 10.1 per cent involving exports of cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper and stood at 37.1 per cent.
CSO director John Kalumbi said at a media briefing in Lusaka that export earnings in October and September this year averaged 74.7 per cent.
Mr Kalumbi said exports of Non-Traditional Earnings (NTEs) recorded a slight drop from K1, 294.2million to K1, 284.5million in October.
“The share recorded an average of 25.3 per cent in revenue earnings between October and September 2014,” Mr Kalumbi said.
Mr Kalumbi said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Australia were fourth and fifth respectively as major export destinations accounting for 4.5 per cent.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was the largest market for Zambia’s total exports accounting for 24.5 per cent in October 2014.
Within SADC, South Africa dominated the export market, accounting for 41.2 per cent. Other notable markets in the region were the DRC, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana.
Mr Kalumbi said Asia regional grouping was the second market for Zambia’s total exports, accounting for 23.5 per cent in October 2014.
Within Asia, China was the dominant market with 74.7 percent, with other notable markets in Asia being Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Hong Kong.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was the third largest market for Zambia’s total exports accounting for 12.9 per cent in October 2014.
