SA remains top trading partner

South Africa was
Zimbabwe’s top
trading partner in
2013, according
to figures released by the
European Union (EU)
Commission for Trade.
These are the most
recent available
full-year figures.
According
to the report South
Africa supplied 49.5% of
Zimbabwe’s imports by value
in 2013 (around ¤2 billion or
R23.5 bn).
The second-biggest
exporter to Zimbabwe was
Zambia, at a value of ¤383m
(R5bn). Most of these
exports were foodstuffs, with
Zambia being a
major supplier of
GMO-free maize
to Zimbabwe.
The market is
closed
to
South
African
maize
exporters
as most
of the
country’s
farmers use
genetically
modified
grain, which
is banned in
Zimbabwe.
China was the thirdbiggest
exporter, with goods
valued at R4.7 bn, followed
by the EU at R3.4 bn.
The EU is, however,
the second-biggest export
market for Zimbabwe,
with goods valued at
R4.6 bn going to Europe
in 2013. This left the EU
with a trade deficit of ¤147
million.
The number is, however,
a minuscule percentage of
total EU trade.
Zimbabwe ranks as the
99th biggest exporter to
the EU and 139th biggest
market.
Neither number registers
as a percentage of total EU
trade with the world.
There was a 61% growth
in tobacco exports to the
EU in 2013 – showing
that Zimbabwe’s tobacco
industry is recovering after
the commercial farmers
were forced to leave their
farms.
Machinery is the biggest
single export segment from
the EU to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s biggest
export market was China,
with goods and products
valued at R6.5 bn.
China, according to
people in the tobacco
industry interviewed
by FTW, has
become a major
importer of
Zimbabwean
tobacco.
The third-biggest export
market for Zimbabwe is
South Africa, at a value of
R4 bn.
China is Zimbabwe’s
second-biggest trade
partner after South Africa
(total trade R22 bn),
followed by the EU on R8
bn, and Zambia on R6.1 bn.