Harare,  (New Ziana) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was Zimbabwe’s main export market last month, accounting for 54.8 percent of the value of goods exported.

Official data that was released by the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) shows that the country’s total exports in June 2025 was valued at US$723.5 million – a decrease of 0.5 percent (US$3.8 million) from the previous month’s value of US$727.3 million.

South Africa was the second major export destination, accounting for 23.5 percent, while China accounted for 8.3 percent. Among the top ten products that were exported last month were semi-manufactured gold, nickel mattes, and tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped, accounting respectively for 53.6 percent, 12.7 percent, and 5.7 percent of the country’s total export value.

“June 2025 exports amounted to USD723.5 million, a decrease of 0.5% (USD3.8 million) from the May 2025 value of USD727.3 million. The country’s major export destinations in June 2025 were the United Arab Emirates (54.8 percent), South Africa (23.5 percent) and China (8.3 percent). The three countries accounted for around 87 percent of the total export value,” the agency said.

Zimbabwe also exported to some countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the European Union (EU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The major exports to SADC countries were nickel mattes, which were at 42 percent of total exports. Other significant exports included coke and semi-coke of coal at 8.8 percent, semi-manufactured gold at 7.9 percent and chromium ores at 5.8 percent.

ZIMSTAT added: “Major exports to the COMESA in June 2025 comprised of iron/steel products (18.6 percent), tobacco cigarettes (18.3 percent), and coke and semi-coke of coal (10.5 percent).

“Zimbabwe’s exports to the Union (EU) were tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped (30.9 percent), ferro-chromium (25.9 percent), and industrial diamonds unworked (24.3 percent).”

During the month under review, major exports to the AfCFTA were nickel mattes that accounted for 41.6 percent, coke and semi-coke of coal (8.8 percent), and semi-manufactured/unwrought gold (7.8 percent).

Meanwhile, imports for the month totalled US$882 million and the top ten products that were imported included mineral fuels, mineral oils and products, machinery and mechanical appliances, cereals and vehicles.

The major source countries for imports were South Africa (34.5 percent), China (15 percent), Bahrain (9.8 percent), and the Bahamas (5.3 percent). The four countries accounted for 65 percent of the total import value.

Major imports from SADC were led by cereals (9.8 percent), followed by machinery and mechanical appliances (9.3 percent) and plastics (8 percent) while main imports from the EU were aircraft, spacecraft and parts, miscellaneous chemical products, machinery and mechanical appliances.

These products accounted for 47.9 percent, 11 percent and 10.3 percent of the total value of imports from the EU, respectively. “Products imported from COMESA in June 2025 were mostly cereals (23.4 percent), Electrical machinery and equipment (11.7 percent), and salt, sulphur, earths and stone, plastering materials (11.5 percent).

Zimbabwe’s major imports from AfCFTA in June 2025 were cereals, machinery and mechanical appliances and plastics, which contributed 9.6 percent, 9.2 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively,” ZIMSTAT added.

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