Namibia continues to rely on imported poultry and poultry products to meet domestic demand, with imports exceeding exports in August.

The latest international merchandise trade statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) identify poultry as the commodity of the month, highlighting the country's trade links with regional and international markets.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, Namibia imported poultry and poultry products worth approximately N$53.44 million in August, compared to exports valued at N$49 million.

Although the country recorded significant export earnings, the figures reveal that Namibia's poultry trade remains largely import-dependent.

Of the total exports, approximately N$48.9 million came from re-exports, while locally produced poultry products accounted for only a small share. This indicates that most poultry products sent to other markets had initially been imported into Namibia.

The main export destinations were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Botswana.

Meanwhile, Brazil, South Africa and the United States of America were the leading sources of Namibia's poultry imports.

Imports declined significantly from N$99.9 million in July to N$53.4 million in August, representing a month-on-month decrease of about 46 coma 6 percent.

Exports also fell, dropping from approximately N$64.1 million in July to N$49 million in August.

Despite the decline in both imports and exports, Namibia recorded a poultry trade deficit of about N$4.4 million, as imports continued to exceed exports.

The figures highlight questions about local poultry production capacity, the competitiveness of domestic producers and the potential to reduce reliance on imported products.

Expanding local poultry production could create opportunities for farmers, support job creation and strengthen Namibia's agricultural value chain.

However, achieving this would require reliable access to production inputs, adequate infrastructure and sustainable markets for locally produced poultry.