Zimbabwe’s merchandise exports rose 60.7% year-on-year to $9.04 billion between January and August 2026, up from $5.63 billion in the same period of 2025, generating a trade surplus of $591.5 million.

Data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), cited by The Herald newspaper and reported by TV BRICS, show that imports totalled $8.45 billion over the period. While imports also increased — rising 32.4% — they grew at a significantly slower pace than exports.

The positive balance stands in sharp contrast to the $758 million trade deficit recorded in the first eight months of 2025. In August alone, export revenues reached $1.68 billion, a 91% increase compared with the same month the previous year.

Minerals and metal alloys remained the leading export category, generating $7.61 billion — a year-on-year increase of 64.9%. Gold accounted for $4.08 billion of that total, while nickel matte, an intermediate product of metal processing, contributed $1.25 billion.

Exports of value-added products grew 67.9%, rising from $353.5 million to $593.4 million.

Among the fastest-growing sectors, engineering products recorded the strongest export performance, with external sales up 118.6% to $178.2 million. Chemical product exports jumped from $6 million to $158.5 million, while horticultural and fruit exports rose 8.5% to $46.2 million.

Cotton, pharmaceuticals, clothing, textiles, footwear, and handicrafts also contributed to overall export revenues.

In Asian markets, sales to China surged 191.5% to $1.98 billion. Exports to Indonesia and Vietnam increased by 39.8% and 68.3%, respectively.