Sharp Declines in Zinc, Diamond, and Gold Production Drag Namibia’s Mining Sector Down

(3 Minutes Read)

Namibia’s mining sector saw a marked downturn in April 2025, with sharp declines in the production of zinc concentrate, diamonds, and gold bullion contributing to an overall drop in mining output, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) reported.

According to the NSA, zinc concentrate production experienced the most significant decline, plunging by 45.2% in April compared to March. This sharp downturn reversed a strong 33.6% increase recorded in March, which had previously signalled a recovery from February’s performance. Year-on-year, zinc output was also down by 19.8%, further highlighting the volatility in this commodity’s production.

Diamond output also faltered, falling by 17.3% in April. This comes after a 16.5% increase in March and reflects a deeper annual contraction of 26.4% compared to April 2024. Gold bullion production followed a similar pattern, decreasing by 9.8% in April, after a 6.0% rise the previous month. However, on a year-on-year basis, gold showed resilience, posting a 10.5% increase over April 2024 levels.

“Monthly decreases were driven by lower production in zinc concentrate, diamonds, and gold bullion,” the NSA stated in its monthly mining report, underscoring the broad-based nature of the contraction in Namibia’s key mining outputs.

These declines had a significant impact on the overall mining production composite index, which dropped by 11.8% month-on-month in April. This erased the 13.4% growth recorded in March, a month in which the mining industry had shown signs of robust recovery after a 17.5% contraction in February.

Despite the downturn in most sectors, uranium stood out as the only mineral to post gains. Uranium production rose by 9.7% in April, building slightly on the 8.8% growth recorded in March. On a year-over-year basis, uranium output surged by an impressive 58.7%, indicating continued strength in this segment of the industry.

Reflecting on the broader trend, the NSA noted that March’s rebound had been underpinned by increased output in zinc, diamonds, uranium, and gold. However, the reversal in April highlights ongoing volatility in Namibia’s mineral production, driven by fluctuating global demand, operational challenges, and shifting commodity prices.

Read Also;

https://trendsnafrica.com/namibian-records-above-50-per-cent-y-y-growth-in-its-mining-sector/

The April figures underscore the mining sector’s critical but unstable role in Namibia’s economy, with performance heavily reliant on a narrow band of key exports. As international markets continue to influence production volumes, stakeholders will be watching closely for signs of stabilisation or further turbulence in the months ahead.