Zambia records trade surplus

—Zambia recorded a trade surplus valued at KR192.8 million in January 2013 from KR 135.9 million recorded in December 2012.

This is according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) monthly bulletin for February, 2013.

The bulletin shows that the country exported more than it imported in January 2013.

The bulletin also shows that Zambia’s major export products in January, 2013, comprised mainly of copper cathodes and sections of refined copper, which accounted for 76.9 per cent, followed by consumer goods which accounted for 14.9 per cent of the total exports.

According to the bulletin, Zambia’s major export destination in January, 2013, was Switzerland, which accounted for 41.0 per cent with the major export products being cathodes and sections of refined copper.

China was the second major destination for Zambia’s exports followed by the United Arab Emirates, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Africa.

The bulletin shows that the five countries collectively accounted for 88.1 per cent of Zambia’s total export earnings in January, 2013.

The bulletin indicates that in regional groupings, Asia was the largest market for Zambia’s total exports, accounting for 35.7 per cent, followed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which accounted for 19.4 per cent in January, 2013.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was the third largest market for Zambia’s total exports in regional groupings, followed by the European Union.

Zambia’s major imports for January 2013 was South Africa , accounting for 26.1 per cent, with the major import products being structures and parts of structures, steel, and iron.

The DRC was the second major source of Zambia’s imports accounting for 22.1 per cent, followed by China which accounted for 9.7 per cent of the total value of imports.

Other sources of Zambia’s imports were the United Kingdom and Japan which collectively accounted for 9.5 per cent of the country’s imports.

The bulletin showed that in regional groupings, SADC was the major source of Zambia’s imports, accounting for 51.9 per cent in January 2013, followed by COMESA and Asia respectively.

Zambia has continued to record trade surpluses since January 2012 with the highest valued at KR473.2 million, recorded in August, 2012.

The lowest trade surplus was recorded in February 2012, valued at KR 47.4 million.