Namibia Urged To Reduce Reliance On Mineral Exports To China

Analysts say that Namibia needs to expand non-mineral exports to China and develop local processing industries to reduce its reliance on mineral commodities.

At the same time trade and economic experts identified opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and regional value chains under China’s zero-tariff arrangement.

Speaking at the China-Africa Cooperation Symposium in Windhoek on Tuesday, Namibia Trade Forum (NFT)'s Analyst, Rodney !Hoaeb brought to light the need for Namibia to use improved access to the Chinese market to diversify its export base and increase the value of goods produced locally.

!Hoaeb noted that Namibia’s exports to China remain heavily concentrated in mineral ores and concentrates, with approximately 87% of exports falling into these categories.

He stressed that the country need to move beyond exporting raw materials and explore opportunities to process minerals before they leave Namibia.

“We can add value to minerals before they leave Namibia for China,” !Hoaeb emphasised, pointing to opportunities for mineral processing and stronger industrial links with neighbouring countries, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola and Botswana.

He noted that Namibia’s trade relationship with China offered opportunities beyond mining, particularly if local businesses could increase production and meet Chinese market requirements.

However, !Hoaeb highlighted the importance of meeting China’s product standards and rules of origin, stressing that “China’s SPS standards are very strict” and warning that “if you do not comply with these requirements down to the last detail, your concessions can be blocked.”

Meanwhile, Standard Bank Namibia's Group Economist, Helena Mboti stressed that the zero-tariff arrangement could help address Namibia’s limited export growth and create opportunities for local producers seeking access to a larger market.

Mboti highlighted the gap between export and import growth, noting that real export growth stood at 0.3%, compared with import growth of 12.9%, contributing to a widening trade deficit.

“This is the opportunity the zero tariff brings. Our excuse was that we do not produce goods because we do not have a market. This removes that excuse,” Mboti stressed.

She pointed out that Namibian producers could use the arrangement to expand exports of locally produced goods, including indigenous products such as marula oil, while agricultural producers could explore opportunities in products such as dates, blueberries, beef and mutton.

However, Mboti stressed that improved market access would need to be accompanied by increased production, investment and efforts to diversify the economy.

She noted that Namibia’s economic relationship with China remains concentrated in mining, despite opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy and logistics.

“My ask is to diversify our relationship with China beyond mineral resources,” she urged, adding that mining employs only about 5% of Namibians and that broader economic activity was needed to support more people, particularly those working in the informal sector.

She also highlighted the importance of beneficiation, where raw materials are processed locally to retain more economic value within the country, rather than being exported mainly in their unprocessed form.

“There is room to increase beneficiation so we get the full benefit from our minerals,” Mboti noted.

In addition to mineral processing, !Hoaeb highlighted opportunities for Namibia to use its transport and logistics infrastructure to support trade between China and the wider Southern African region.

He stressed that the country should capitalise on its position as a regional corridor while improving the efficiency of its ports and border operations.

“We should not be afraid. We are a corridor, and as was mentioned, we should capitalise on our logistics strength,” he said.

!Hoaeb also pointed to opportunities for manufacturing partnerships in sectors such as steel, textiles, clothing and automotive assembly, which could support local production and supply regional markets.

He noted that Namibia should assess how Chinese investment could contribute to industrial development rather than focus only on importing finished goods.

He further highlighted the need for businesses to understand the Chinese market, meet the required standards and identify products with export potential, noting that these efforts would need to be supported by stronger private-sector participation and regional cooperation.

Mboti similarly emphasised the need to broaden economic activity beyond mining, particularly as the country seeks to strengthen manufacturing and develop its position as a regional trade and services hub.

She noted that partnerships in renewable energy, infrastructure and logistics could complement existing trade links and support wider economic diversification.

“We should stop seeing Namibia as three million people and test the market,” Mboti stressed, encouraging businesses to explore demand for locally produced goods instead of limiting their ambitions to the domestic market.

The China-Africa Cooperation Symposium brought together government officials, business representatives and economic stakeholders to discuss trade and investment opportunities under the theme “China-Africa Partnership at 70: Deepening Collaboration and Exchanges.”