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· Increased agricultural exports in June resulted in Zambia’s non-traditional exports (NTEs) rising by 11.3 percent to over K2.51 billion from about K2.2 billion in May
· According to Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) agricultural products accounted for a share of 34.6 percent of Zambia’s NTEs compared to 22.8 percent in May
Increased agricultural exports in June resulted in Zambia’s non-traditional exports (NTEs) rising by 11.3 percent to over K2.51 billion from about K2.2 billion in May.
According to Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) agricultural products accounted for a share of 34.6 percent of Zambia’s NTEs compared to 22.8 percent in May.
The export earnings from agricultural products on a month to month basis increased by 68.8 percent to K870.6 million in June from K515.7 million in May. The major export commodities were raw cane sugar accounting for 21.8 percent, followed by tobacco at 17.1 percent and groats (hulled kernels of various cereal grain), and meal of maize corn accounting for six percent.
In the meantime, ZAMBIA’s trade surplus has increased to over K96.8 billion in the first six months of this year compared to about K91.8 billion the same period last year as the annual inflation dropped to 15.8 percent for July. Trade in June decreased by 0.8 percentage point to about K17.07 billion from over K17.2 billion in May. The country recorded a trade surplus valued at K1.56 billion in June from about K3.84 billion recorded in May, indicating a 59.4 percent decrease. Exports which mainly comprise domestically produced goods decreased by 11.5 percent from about K10.5 billion in May to almost K9.3 billion in June. This decrease was mainly on account of an 18.6 percent decrease in export earnings from intermediate goods,” Mr Musepa said at the monthly bulletin yesterday.
