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Zambia has realised US$2.68 billion from its top five markets for Non-Traditional Exports (NTE) in 2023, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leading in earnings.
This is according to the 2023 Exporter Survey Report launched this month by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).
The US$2.68 billion represented 63.31 percent of total NTEs recorded last year.
Among the top five NTE markets, Congo DRC recorded the highest earnings of US$1.54 billion, representing 36.32 percent. South Africa followed with US$549.94 million, accounting for 13 percent of the total NTEs.
Zimbabwe, China, and Botswana also contributed significantly, with earnings of US$255.66 million, US$171.95 million, and US$151.88 million, representing 6.04 percent, 4.06 percent and 3.59 percent respectively. Other markets combined accounted for US$1.55 billion, representing 36.99 percent of total NTEs.
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Zambia’s major export destinations by market bloc were within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), with export earnings worth US$1.95 billion.
This represented 46.22 percent of total NTEs in 2023.
In comparison to 2022, NTEs decreased by 1.78 percent, from US$1.99 billion in 2022 to US$1.95 billion in 2023.
Exports to the Asia and SADC exclusive market blocs recorded US$506.22 million and US$1.05 billion, representing 24.78 percent and 11.96 percent respectively.
The COMESA exclusive market bloc recorded the least share of exports, worth US$118.95 million, representing 2.81 percent of the total market share.
At the sectoral level, the engineering and foundry sector recorded the largest proportion of NTEs in 2023, accounting for US$988 million or 23.36 percent of total NTEs.
This was followed by chemicals and pharmaceuticals, processed and refined foods, primary agriculture, and electricity sectors with export values of US$841 million, US$548 million, US$443 million and US$332 million, representing 19.87 percent, 12.94 percent, 10.46 percent and 7.84 percent respectively.
Other sectors combined accounted for US$1.08 billion, representing 25.53 percent of the total NTEs.
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