Zambia (ZMB)

Annual exports and imports in 2024 (USD).

Source: UN Comtrade. Warehouse 1: partner = World totals by HS4 and year.

Exports

$11.28B

Imports

$11.27B

Total trade

$22.54B

Trade balance

$7.82M

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Zambia - trade dependency by partner, 2024 (USD)

Share of exports, imports, and total trade attributed to each partner.

Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade

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Showing top 10 partners by total dependency.

Rank #1

Switzerland (CHE)

Total

21.5%

Exports

42.5%

$4.80B

Imports

0.5%

$52.97M

Total

21.5%

$4.85B

Rank #2

China (CHN)

Total

18.9%

Exports

20.8%

$2.34B

Imports

17.0%

$1.92B

Total

18.9%

$4.26B

Rank #3

South Africa (ZAF)

Total

14.9%

Exports

4.2%

$471.76M

Imports

25.7%

$2.89B

Total

14.9%

$3.37B

Rank #4

Dem. Rep. of the Congo (COD)

Total

6.8%

Exports

10.7%

$1.20B

Imports

2.8%

$320.53M

Total

6.8%

$1.52B

Rank #5

United Arab Emirates (ARE)

Total

4.5%

Exports

3.5%

$399.99M

Imports

5.4%

$609.93M

Total

4.5%

$1.01B

Rank #6

Singapore (SGP)

Total

3.2%

Exports

2.0%

$223.27M

Imports

4.4%

$497.24M

Total

3.2%

$720.51M

Rank #7

India (IND)

Total

3.1%

Exports

1.2%

$136.09M

Imports

5.1%

$569.89M

Total

3.1%

$705.97M

Rank #8

United Rep. of Tanzania (TZA)

Total

3.0%

Exports

1.7%

$193.24M

Imports

4.4%

$491.25M

Total

3.0%

$684.49M

Rank #9

Zimbabwe (ZWE)

Total

2.2%

Exports

3.3%

$376.52M

Imports

1.1%

$122.71M

Total

2.2%

$499.23M

Rank #10

Japan (JPN)

Total

2.1%

Exports

0.0%

Imports

4.3%

$479.80M

Total

2.1%

$479.80M

Rank	Partner	Export dependency	Import dependency	Total dependency
1	Switzerland (CHE)	42.5% $4.80B	0.5% $52.97M	21.5% $4.85B
2	China (CHN)	20.8% $2.34B	17.0% $1.92B	18.9% $4.26B
3	South Africa (ZAF)	4.2% $471.76M	25.7% $2.89B	14.9% $3.37B
4	Dem. Rep. of the Congo (COD)	10.7% $1.20B	2.8% $320.53M	6.8% $1.52B
5	United Arab Emirates (ARE)	3.5% $399.99M	5.4% $609.93M	4.5% $1.01B
6	Singapore (SGP)	2.0% $223.27M	4.4% $497.24M	3.2% $720.51M
7	India (IND)	1.2% $136.09M	5.1% $569.89M	3.1% $705.97M
8	United Rep. of Tanzania (TZA)	1.7% $193.24M	4.4% $491.25M	3.0% $684.49M
9	Zimbabwe (ZWE)	3.3% $376.52M	1.1% $122.71M	2.2% $499.23M
10	Japan (JPN)	0.0% $0	4.3% $479.80M	2.1% $479.80M

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

In 2024, Zambia's total international trade amounted to $22.5B, with exports of $11.3B and imports of $11.3B, resulting in a trade balance of $7.8M.
Zambia ranks 83rd globally in total trade, 77th in exports, and 93rd in imports.
The country's top export destination is Switzerland, receiving 42.5% of exports valued at $4.8B.
South Africa is the leading source of imports, accounting for 25.7% of total imports at a value of $2.9B.
The most significant export category for Zambia is Copper and articles thereof (HS2 74), which represents 67.3% of all exports, totaling $7.6B.
Mineral fuels and oils (HS2 27) are the top import category, making up 22.9% of total imports with a value of $2.6B.

Zambia's Trade Performance in 2024

In 2024, Zambia engaged in $22.5B of total trade, ranking 83rd worldwide. Exports were valued at $11.3B and imports at $11.3B, leading to a positive trade balance of $7.8M. The country's primary export partners were Switzerland, which received $4.8B (42.5%) of exports, and China, with $2.3B (20.8%). On the import side, Zambia's main suppliers were South Africa ($2.9B, 25.7%) and China ($1.9B, 17.0%).

Top Export and Import Categories

Zambia's export economy is heavily reliant on its mineral resources. The top export category is Copper and articles thereof (HS2 74), with shipments valued at $7.6B, accounting for 67.3% of the country's total exports. Following copper are Ores, slag and ash (HS2 26), with exports of $475.7M. For imports, Zambia's most significant category is Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (HS2 27), valued at $2.6B. The second-largest import category is Machinery and mechanical appliances (HS2 84), totaling $1.8B.

Exports

Zambia - exports over time (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported export values across available years.

Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top export categories

Largest HS2 categories by export value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 74

Copper and articles thereof

$7.59B

67.3% share

#2 • HS 26

Ores, slag and ash

$475.66M

4.2% share

#3 • HS 25

Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement

$326.23M

2.9% share

#4 • HS 27

Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

$306.83M

2.7% share

#5 • HS 71

Natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin

$280.37M

2.5% share

#6 • HS 24

Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body

$193.69M

1.7% share

#7 • HS 72

Iron and steel

$190.77M

1.7% share

#8 • HS 28

Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes

$172.33M

1.5% share

#9 • HS 22

Beverages, spirits and vinegar

$153.16M

1.4% share

#10 • HS 23

Food industries, residues and wastes thereof; prepared animal fodder

$144.88M

1.3% share

#11 • HS 31

Fertilizers

$121.15M

1.1% share

#12 • HS 34

Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster

$116.12M

1.0% share

#13 • HS 17

Sugars and sugar confectionery

$114.29M

1.0% share

#14 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$100.36M

0.9% share

#15 • HS 19

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products

$95.11M

0.8% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Copper and articles thereof	$7.59B	67.3%
2	Ores, slag and ash	$475.66M	4.2%
3	Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement	$326.23M	2.9%
4	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	$306.83M	2.7%
5	Natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin	$280.37M	2.5%
6	Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body	$193.69M	1.7%
7	Iron and steel	$190.77M	1.7%
8	Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes	$172.33M	1.5%
9	Beverages, spirits and vinegar	$153.16M	1.4%
10	Food industries, residues and wastes thereof; prepared animal fodder	$144.88M	1.3%
11	Fertilizers	$121.15M	1.1%
12	Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster	$116.12M	1.0%
13	Sugars and sugar confectionery	$114.29M	1.0%
14	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$100.36M	0.9%
15	Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products	$95.11M	0.8%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Zambia - export composition by product categories (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by export value in the selected year.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Zambia - export composition by 4-digit product groups (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Imports

Zambia - imports over time (Imports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported import values across available years.

Flow: Imports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top import categories

Largest HS2 categories by import value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 27

Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

$2.58B

22.9% share

#2 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$1.78B

15.8% share

#3 • HS 87

Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof

$1.19B

10.6% share

#4 • HS 31

Fertilizers

$661.40M

5.9% share

#5 • HS 39

Plastics and articles thereof

$504.34M

4.5% share

#6 • HS 85

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles

$477.14M

4.2% share

#7 • HS 38

Chemical products n.e.c.

$312.34M

2.8% share

#8 • HS 30

Pharmaceutical products

$307.21M

2.7% share

#9 • HS 73

Iron or steel articles

$288.05M

2.6% share

#10 • HS 72

Iron and steel

$257.81M

2.3% share

#11 • HS 26

Ores, slag and ash

$250.34M

2.2% share

#12 • HS 15

Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes

$206.06M

1.8% share

#13 • HS 28

Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes

$196.54M

1.7% share

#14 • HS 40

Rubber and articles thereof

$195.87M

1.7% share

#15 • HS 03

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

$168.36M

1.5% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	$2.58B	22.9%
2	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$1.78B	15.8%
3	Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	$1.19B	10.6%
4	Fertilizers	$661.40M	5.9%
5	Plastics and articles thereof	$504.34M	4.5%
6	Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles	$477.14M	4.2%
7	Chemical products n.e.c.	$312.34M	2.8%
8	Pharmaceutical products	$307.21M	2.7%
9	Iron or steel articles	$288.05M	2.6%
10	Iron and steel	$257.81M	2.3%
11	Ores, slag and ash	$250.34M	2.2%
12	Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes	$206.06M	1.8%
13	Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes	$196.54M	1.7%
14	Rubber and articles thereof	$195.87M	1.7%
15	Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates	$168.36M	1.5%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Zambia - import composition by product categories (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by import value in the selected year.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Zambia - import composition by 4-digit product groups (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade