Walvis Bay exports suffer declines

Declined
Marble shipments fell 81%, while copper and lead concentrates more than halved as several key export categories recorded lower volumes in 2025/26
Phillipus Josef
  • 11 Hours Ago

Exports of several key commodities through the Port of Walvis Bay fell sharply in the 2025/26 financial year, with marble and granite shipments declining by 81%, according to Namport’s latest integrated annual report.


Marble and granite exports fell from 126,682 tonnes in 2024/25 to 24,572 tonnes in the year ended 31 March 2026. Scrap steel shipments declined by 59%, from 38,236 tonnes to 15,721 tonnes, with Namport attributing the drop to weaker demand.


Bulk salt exports, the port’s leading export commodity, fell by 50.5%, from 833,939 tonnes to 412,405 tonnes. Bagged salt exports also declined, by 16%, from 146,168 tonnes to 122,736 tonnes.


The declines followed gains in several export categories in the previous financial year, including salt, copper and lead concentrates, charcoal and stone exports.


Namport attributed the reduction in salt shipments to changing market demand, shipping schedules, production levels and customer requirements. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia’s 2025 annual review separately noted that the introduction of US tariffs in 2025 had negatively affected bulk salt sales.


Exports of copper and lead concentrates fell by 52%, from 537,673 tonnes to 259,550 tonnes. The concentrates are sourced mainly from Botswana’s Sandfire Motheo and Khoemacau copper mines. Namport reported lower throughput during the period.


The commodities’ share of total exports through Walvis Bay fell from 21% to 16%.


Charcoal exports declined by 58%, from 259,010 tonnes to 109,432 tonnes. Namport attributed the contraction partly to heavy rains, which disrupted production and curing operations, shortened production windows and increased weathering and handling losses.


Poor road conditions also restricted truck access to farming areas, reducing the volumes available for shipment through the port. Namport expects any recovery to be gradual as production and logistical conditions improve.


Fish and fish product exports fell by 53%, from 168,071 tonnes to 78,305 tonnes. Their share of Walvis Bay’s total export volumes declined from 6% to about 5%.


Namport cited changing market conditions across its export portfolio, while noting that fisheries remain an important component of Namibia’s exports.


Despite the declines, salt remained Walvis Bay’s leading export commodity, accounting for about 26% of the port’s export volumes in 2025/26. Copper and lead concentrates accounted for approximately 16%.


phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na