Processed food volumes grow
ALAN PEAT
ZAMBIA managed to increase its exports of non-traditional products by 24.5% between January and August this year compared to the same period in 2003, the Lusaka Post reported.
SA remains the main export destination for Zambian products - with growth being recorded in animal and fish products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, engineering products, floricultural products, non-metallic products, primary agricultural products, processed food, textiles and wood products.
According to Glyne Michelo, executive director of the Export Board of Zambia (EBZ), the export of engineering and primary agricultural products more than doubled - with agricultural products increasing by 109%, and engineering products by 156% in earnings.
Exports of processed foods grew due to an increase in demand for sugar from the European Union (EU), SA and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he added. Floricultural products also enjoyed a good growth rate of 36.4%.
While SA remains the largest export destination, the DRC and Malawi also receive significant exports from Zambia. Other export destinations include Germany, the UK, Finland, Tanzania, USA, India, Netherlands, Kenya, Switzerland and Botswana.
