Namibia exported goods worth N$17.57 billion to the European Union in 2025, with uranium, diamonds, gold, and other minerals continuing to anchor trade flows between the country and one of its largest international markets.
A new economic study presented in Windhoek this week shows that the European Union accounted for 19.4% of Namibia’s total exports during 2025, making the bloc the country’s third-largest export destination after South Africa and China.
The analysis, titled “EU-Namibia Trade in Five Charts”, was prepared by independent economist Robin Sherbourne using Namibia Statistics Agency trade data covering exports and imports with more than 220 countries and territories during 2024 and 2025.
According to the report, Namibia’s total exports reached N$90.4 billion in 2025, with uranium, gold, fish and diamonds accounting for more than 80% of total export earnings.
Sherbourne said the findings highlight how heavily Namibia’s export economy remains concentrated around a small number of commodities, particularly minerals and extractive resources, leaving the country vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices and demand cycles.
The report identified uranium as one of the key drivers behind Namibia’s trade relationship with Europe and other major export markets.
According to the study, uranium exports are largely linked to production from Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine, Rössing Uranium and Langer Heinrich Uranium.
The presentation notes that Husab, which began production in 2016, represents the largest single Chinese investment in Africa and includes a 10% stake in Epangelo Mining, a Namibian government-owned company.
Gold exports were mainly linked to production from Navachab Gold Mine and B2Gold Namibia’s Otjikoto Mine, both of which sell gold to Rand Refinery in Germiston, South Africa.
The study also notes that diamond export destinations continue to be shaped by Namdeb Holdings’ sales structures through NAMDIA and DTC Botswana.
Sherbourne said increases in uranium and gold prices, together with declining diamond prices, have significantly altered Namibia’s trade patterns since the previous 2023 study.
South Africa remained Namibia’s largest export destination in 2025, accounting for N$26.65 billion (29.5%) of exports, followed by China at N$21.99 billion (24.3%).
Within the European Union itself, six countries — Spain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Germany — accounted for 95% of Namibia’s exports to Europe.
The report further found that the EU differs from Namibia’s other major trading partners because it imports a more diversified basket of Namibian products, including uranium, fish and crustaceans, meat, fruit, charcoal, diamonds and base metals.
According to the study, exports to the EU support more than 40,000 jobs in Namibia, particularly in labour-intensive industries such as fishing, meat processing, fruit production and charcoal manufacturing.
The report also found that Namibia maintained a trade surplus with the EU during 2025, reflecting relatively balanced trade relations between the two economies.
