Zimbabwe recorded a 64.5% increase in goods trade surplus of US$526.5 million in August 2026, from the US$320 million realised in July, latest official data shows.

According to data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, total exports increased by 14.2% to US$1.68 billion in August, up from US$1.47 billion recorded in the previous month.

In contrast, imports remained largely flat, edging up by 0.2% to US$1.152.4 billion in August 2026 compared to US$1.149.8 billion in July.

Extractive sector products continued to dominate the country’s export basket. Semi-manufactured gold generated the largest share of exports at 44%, followed by other mineral substances at 19.5% and other ores and concentrates at 12%.

Nickel mattes accounted for 8.0%, while stemmed or stripped tobacco contributed 3.5% of the exports. On the import side, energy and capital goods accounted for the bulk of foreign currency outflows.

Mineral fuels and oils constituted the highest import cost at 22.2% of total imports, followed by machinery and mechanical appliances at 15.5%, motor vehicles at 6.8%, and electrical machinery and equipment at 4.9%.

Geographically, export earnings remained highly concentrated. The United Arab Emirates emerged as the single largest export buyer, absorbing US$749.6 million worth of goods, followed by China at US$540.3 million and South Africa at US$218.3 million.

Together, the three destinations accounted for nearly 90% of total export revenue for the month.

South Africa maintained its position as Zimbabwe’s primary source of imports, supplying US$411.8 million in goods, followed by China at US$206.1 million, Bahrain at US$78.2 million, and Mozambique at US$54.9 million.

Collectively, these four source markets supplied 65% of the country’s total import bill in August.

In regional trade, exports to the African Continental Free Trade Area bloc totaled US$286.7 million, anchored heavily by nickel mattes at 46.8% and iron or steel products at 9.2%.

Total imports from the continental market stood at US$585.7 million, led by industrial machinery, petroleum products, and fertilisers.