By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
ZAMBIA’s metal exports increased by more than 30 per cent in the month of October 2015.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) acting director Goodson Sinyenga said during a media briefing in Lusaka at the weekend that the total value of metals increased from K3,313.3 million in September 2015 to K4,396.2 million in October 2015 representing a 32.7 per cent increase.
Mr Sinyenga said the overall contribution of metals and their products to the total export earnings in September and October 2015 averaged 70.2 per cent.
“Similarly, there was an increase in the exports of Non Traditional Exports (NTE) s from K1,463.3 million in September 2015 to K1,795.0 million in October 2015.
The share of NTEs recorded an average of 29.8 per cent in revenue earnings between September and October 2015,” Mr Sinyenga said.
He said Zambia’s major NTEs in October 2015 were maize which accounted for 14.3 per cent, with the second main NTEs were maize seeds, accounting for 4.7 per cent.
Mr Sinyenga said other notable NTEs in October 2015 were Semi-manufactured gold, cotton, not carded or combed and tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed, stripped which collectively accounted for 12.8 per cent.
Mr Sinyenga said Switzerland has continued to be Zambia’s major export destination.
“Switzerland was the largest export destination for Zambia during the month of October 2015, accounting for 47.7 per cent of Zambia’s total exports,” he said.
He said China was the second main largest destination of Zambia’s exports accounting for 9.4 per cent of the total export earnings, with the major export product to China being copper blisters accounting for
63 per cent.
Mr Sinyenga said Singapore was the third main export destination accounting for eight per cent of the total export earnings.
“The major export product to Singapore was cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper accounting for 92.6 per cent,” he said.
The major source of imports in October 2015 was South Africa, accounting for 30.4 percent, major import product from South Africa being gas oils, contributing 4.5 per cent.
He said the second main source of Zambia’s imports was Mauritius which accounted for 14.4 per cent with the major import products being gas oils accounting for 63.7 per cent.
The Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) was third, accounting for 13.7 per cent.
Mr Sinyenga said the major import products from DRC were copper ores and concentrates, which accounted for 38.6 per cent.
Other sources of Zambia’s imports were China and Kuwait, which collectively accounted for 11.4 percent of Zambia’s Imports.