By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
ZAMBIA’S metal export earnings increased from K6, 752.3 million in January to K6, 906.1 million in February this year recording an increase of 2.3 percent.
The overall contribution of metals to the total export earnings between January and February this year averaged 82 per cent.
Central Statistical Office (CSO) acting director census and statistics Goodson Sinyenga said Non Traditional Exports (NTEs) increased by 81 per cent from K1,437. 1 million in January to K1, 553.6 million in February.
Mr Sinyenga told Journalists during a media briefing last week that the volume of Copper exported in February decreased from 95,688.3 tonnes recorded in January to 92,200.3 tonnes in February this year, indicating a 3.2 percent reduction.
He explained that the corresponding Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) decreased by 1.1 per cent from US$7,080.3 per tonne in January to US$7,001.8 per tonne in February.
“Since Copper accounts for the largest weight/proportion of NTEs, any change in the volume and price/value has a direct bearing on the performance of traditional exports,” he said.
Mr Sinyenga said Zambia’s major products in February were from the intermediate goods   category mainly comprising of Copper anodes for electrolytic refining among others accounting for 87.5 per cent.
Exports from the consumer goods, raw materials and capital goods categories collectively accounted for 12.5 per cent of the exports in February this year.
Switzerland continued to be the country’s major export destination in February accounting for 43.3 per cent of the total export earnings.
The major export products  to Switzerland  was copper anodes for  electrolytic refining, accounting  for 46.8 per cent of the total  export earnings from that country, followed by  cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper accounting for 23.9 per cent.
Mr Sinyenga said China was the second main destination of Zambia’s exports accounting for 10. 4 per cent of the total export earnings, with major export product to that country being copper blister accounting for 45.3 per cent of the total export earnings from China.
Singapore was third main export destination accounting for 8.2 per cent of the total export earnings, while South Africa was the fourth main export destination accounting for 7.7 per cent.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was the fifth main destination accounting for seven per cent of the total export earnings.
The five countries collectively accounted for 76.6 per cent of Zambia’s total export earnings in February this year.