South Africa and Zambia Account for Nearly 70% of Namibia’s Cross-Border Port Cargo in 2025 Amid 19% Trade Growth Surge
In 2025, 35% of all cross-border cargo processed at Namibian ports came from South Africa, with Zambia contributing 34%, collectively accounting for almost 70% of the total.
Botswana’s share was 18%, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at 10%, and Malawi at 8%. This data is sourced from the Namibian Ports Authority’s Integrated Annual Report, which details activities between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
The report emphasizes that South Africa serves as the primary user of the port facilities in Namibia, while Zambia closely follows, bolstered by strong mining exports and a rise in imports of mining equipment. This year, Botswana’s portion increased due to a surge in copper exports.
Contributions from the DRC and Malawi were primarily from copper, cobalt, and agricultural products. In comparison, Zimbabwe (2%) and Angola (1%) had diminished volumes due to other routing and reduced export activities.
Namibia is striving to establish itself as a pivotal gateway into Africa, utilizing its port infrastructure and road networks. The two ports handle containerized, bulk, and break-bulk cargo across a diverse range of goods, including salt, copper, manganese, uranium, agricultural products, foodstuffs, petroleum, chemicals, vehicles, frozen items, timber, and project cargo.
There was a 19% increase in cross-border cargo volumes, reinforcing Namibia’s status as a regional entry point. Additionally, the activities of passenger liners and cruises saw an uptick, enhancing tourism-related income. In total, cargo volumes reached 8.4 million metric tonnes, exceeding last year’s total of 8 million tonnes.
Namport reported significant growth in container volumes due to collaborative efforts in business development and marketing with private operators. Container volumes increased from 155,980 TEUs in 2020/21 to 171,151 TEUs in 2023/24, despite a minor decline in 2023. The following year saw a remarkable 48% rise, achieving 253,996 TEUs, attributed to concessioning.
General cargo volumes have also risen consistently, climbing from 4.0 million tonnes in 2021 to 6.3 million tonnes by 2025. The most recent year recorded a 13% growth, driven by trade in key commodities. The occupancy rate at the Syncrolift repair bay was maintained at 47%, while jetty occupancy remained high at over 70%, positively impacting the Syncrolift’s performance.
Namport was founded under the Namibian Ports Authority Act (Act 2 of 1994) and manages both the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz. It plays a crucial role in trade and logistics for Namibia and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Namport oversees port operations, lighthouses, and navigational aids within Namibia’s waters, ensuring the provision of safe and efficient port facilities and services.
The organization is committed to implementing sound business practices for long-term sustainability. Namport facilitates both local and cross-border trade through four key corridors:
– The Trans-Kalahari Corridor, connecting Namibia with Botswana and South Africa.
– The Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi Development Corridor, linking Namibia with Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
– The Trans-Cunene Corridor, providing access to Angola.
– The Trans-Oranje Corridor, which connects Namibia to South Africa.
Furthermore, Namport is a founding member of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), a partnership that advocates for Namibia’s transport corridors and ports as effective gateways to markets.
Looking forward, Namport plans to maintain productivity improvements, enhance customer service by ensuring reliable transit times, and reduce overall logistics costs. The organization also intends to shift towards a landlord port authority model that attracts investment, generates jobs, increases trade volumes, and fosters innovation.
