From The Namibian via All Africa

Namibia continued to be a net importer of goods and services over the period 2008 to 2013, a matter that led to trade deficits.

“The increase in our country’s trade deficit is worrying, as such dependence on imports hurts Namibia’s economic independence,” Statistician General John Steytler said in the 2013 National Accounts Report.

He said the value of imported goods stood at N$63,7 billion in 2013, compared to N$53,4 billion in 2012.

The import value of services has increased to N$7,7 billion from N$5,7 billion in 2012, while the export value of goods for 2013 amounts to N$47,9 billion, compared to N$42,3 billion in 2012.

“The value of services exported declined marginally to N$5,5 billion in 2013 from N$5,6 billion one year earlier,” said Steytler.

The overall result is that the external balance of goods and services deteriorated from a deficit of N$11,2 billion in 2012 to a deficit of N$18,1 billion in 2013.

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