Trade by sea surges in past quarter
24 December 2018 | Economics
Jo-Maré Duddy - The key role assigned to Walvis Bay in Namibia’s aspirations to become a logistics hub in the Southern African region is evident from the latest official stats showing a boom in trade via the harbour.
Data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) last week shows about 43% of total trade - exports and imports - in the third quarter of 2018 was facilitated by Walvis Bay. In the previous quarter it was nearly 42% and a year ago the figure was approximately 37.5%.
In dollar and cents, about N$22.4 billion of goods in total were exported and imported via Walvis Bay in the past quarter. Compared to the second quarter, this is an increase of nearly N$2 billion. On an annual basis, trade is up about N$7.6 billion.
Exports
The bulk of Namibia’s exports in the third quarter - 55% - was channelled through Walvis Bay. About N$13.3 billion worth of goods were exported from Walvis Bay.
This was followed by nearly N$3.4 billion of exports via the Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek, N$2.5 billion via the Eros Airport in the capital and N$1.4 billion which left the country using the Trans-Kalahari highway.
Exports via Walvis Bay recorded significant growth both on an annual basis. Compared to the third quarter of 2017, Walvis Bay saw 146% more export traffic. In monetary terms, exports through Walvis Bay spiked by about N$7.9 billion in the past quarter.
Imports
About 33% or N$9.1 billion of all Namibia’s imports in the past quarter came through Walvis Bay. The Trans-Kalahari highway and the border post at Wenela followed with 16% each of total imports. About 15% of all imports came through the border post at Ariamsvlei.
Imports via Walvis Bay were 33% higher than in the second quarter, but down 3% from the third quarter in 2017.
Data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) last week shows about 43% of total trade - exports and imports - in the third quarter of 2018 was facilitated by Walvis Bay. In the previous quarter it was nearly 42% and a year ago the figure was approximately 37.5%.
In dollar and cents, about N$22.4 billion of goods in total were exported and imported via Walvis Bay in the past quarter. Compared to the second quarter, this is an increase of nearly N$2 billion. On an annual basis, trade is up about N$7.6 billion.
Exports
The bulk of Namibia’s exports in the third quarter - 55% - was channelled through Walvis Bay. About N$13.3 billion worth of goods were exported from Walvis Bay.
This was followed by nearly N$3.4 billion of exports via the Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek, N$2.5 billion via the Eros Airport in the capital and N$1.4 billion which left the country using the Trans-Kalahari highway.
Exports via Walvis Bay recorded significant growth both on an annual basis. Compared to the third quarter of 2017, Walvis Bay saw 146% more export traffic. In monetary terms, exports through Walvis Bay spiked by about N$7.9 billion in the past quarter.
Imports
About 33% or N$9.1 billion of all Namibia’s imports in the past quarter came through Walvis Bay. The Trans-Kalahari highway and the border post at Wenela followed with 16% each of total imports. About 15% of all imports came through the border post at Ariamsvlei.
Imports via Walvis Bay were 33% higher than in the second quarter, but down 3% from the third quarter in 2017.
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