By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia’s total value of exports via all modes of transport in January 2026 stood at K27.6 billion, with road transport accounting for the highest value at K26.8 billion, representing a 96.9 percent share.
Air transport was second with K0.3 billion, while rail transport ranked third with a value of K0.2 billion.
According to Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats, the total volume of exports via all modes of transport in January 2026 stood at 765.9 thousand metric tonnes.
ZamStats Acting Statistician General Sheila Mudenda said road transport accounted for the highest volume at 626.0 thousand metric tonnes, representing 81.7 percent.
She added that rail transport accounted for 1.0 thousand metric tonnes, representing 0.1 percent, while air transport accounted for 0.3 thousand metric tonnes.
“Other modes accounted for 138.6 thousand metric tonnes, representing 18.1 percent of the total export volume,” she noted.
Mrs. Mudenda stressed that the total value of imports via all modes of transport for January 2026 was K22.9 billion.
She said road transport accounted for the highest import value at K11.9 billion, representing a 51.9 percent share.
“Air transport followed with K1.3 billion, representing 5.5 percent, while rail transport accounted for K0.3 billion, representing 1.2 percent of the total import bill. Other modes of transport accounted for K9.5 billion, representing 41.3 percent,” Mrs. Mudenda stated.
In terms of volumes, a total of 932.1 thousand metric tonnes of imports was recorded in January 2026.
Mrs. Mudenda stated that road transport accounted for 443.3 thousand metric tonnes, representing 47.6 percent, followed by rail transport at 18.0 thousand metric tonnes, representing 1.9 percent.
“Air transport accounted for 0.9 thousand metric tonnes, representing 0.1 percent, while other modes accounted for 469.8 thousand metric tonnes, representing 50.4 percent,” Mrs. Mudenda noted.
