By Cecilia Chiluba,Zambia,Lusaka
Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) says the country’s import bill in March 2026 was largely driven by trade with South Africa and China, which together accounted for nearly half of its total imports.
ZamStats Statistician General Sheila Mudenda told Journalists that South Africa was the largest source of imports, contributing 23.1 percent to the total import bill.
“The major source of imports in March 2026 was South Africa, accounting for 23.1 percent of the import bill. The major import products were vehicles-diesel engine for the transport of goods, accounting for 3.9 percent,” she said.
Ms. Mudenda noted that China was the second-largest source, accounting for 23.0 percent, with road tractors for semi-trailers-diesel or semi-diesel making up the bulk of imports at 5.5 percent.
She said the United Arab Emirates was third, accounting for 5.59 percent of the import bill, with gas oils contributing 49.4 percent of imports from that country.
Ms Mudenda added that Japan ranked fourth at 5.58 percent, with spark-ignition vehicles accounting for 20.4 percent, while India was fifth at 5.3 percent, largely driven by imports of medicaments, which made up 30.7 percent.
She further explained that Asia remained the main source of Zambia’s imports, accounting for 49.5 percent of the total import bill.
“Within this grouping, China was the main source, accounting for 46.5 percent. Other notable markets included the United Arab Emirates, Japan, India and Saudi Arabia, collectively accounting for 38.4 percent,” Ms. Mudenda stated.
She added that the SADC exclusive region was the second-largest source of imports at 29.7 percent.
“Within SADC, South Africa was the main source, accounting for 77.5 percent, while other notable markets were Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, contributing a combined 22.5 percent,” she added.
According to Ms. Mudenda, the Dual SADC and COMESA grouping ranked third, contributing 7.9 percent to the import bill, with the Democratic Republic of Congo dominating at 59.2 percent.
“Other notable markets in this category were Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Eswatini and Seychelles, collectively accounting for 39.8 percent,” she said.
She mentioned that the European Union (EU) ranked fourth at 5.4 percent, with Germany as the dominant source at 16.9 percent, while Finland, Ireland, Belgium and Latvia collectively accounted for 43.7 percent.
The Statistician General stressed that the COMESA exclusive grouping contributed 0.6 percent to the import bill. “Within this grouping, Kenya was the dominant market with 76.5 percent, followed by Egypt at 19.5 percent, while Uganda, Tunisia and Rwanda accounted for a combined 3.9 percent,” she said.
