By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA  –
ZAMBIA recorded a 0.1 per cent rise in exports of Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) in February this year.
On the contrary, there was a 19.3 per cent decrease in the total value of metal exports in the same month.
Central Statistical Office (CSO) director of Census and Statistics John Kalumbi said there was a 0. 1 per cent increase in the exports of NTEs from K1,471.0 million in January to K1,472.3 million in February this year.
Mr Kalumbi explained that the share of the NTEs recorded an average of 25.9 per cent in revenue earnings between February and January 2016.
He said during a Press briefing in Lusaka that Zambia’s major NTEs products in February, was maize, excluding seed which accounted for 17.2 per cent followed by Bullion Semi-manufactured farms which accounted for 5.3 per cent.
Mr Kalumbi said other notable NTEs were tobacco representing 3.9 per cent and raw sugar cane accounting for 3.8 per cent. Cotton and calcium carbonate in bulk were at 3.2 per cent each.
“There has been a 19.3 per cent decrease in the total value of metal exports from K4, 711.1 million in January 2016 to K3, 801.7 million in February 2016,” Mr Kalumbi said.
The overall contribution of metals and their products to the total export earnings in February and January 2016 averaged 74.1 per cent.
It was observed that the major export destination in February 2016 was Switzerland, which accounted for 37.5 per cent of the total export earnings.
Mr Kalumbi said the major export products to Switzerland were cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper accounting for 58.1 per cent.
“China is the second main destination of Zambia’s exports accounting for 23.3 per cent of the total export earnings. The major export product to China was copper blisters accounting for 67.3 per cent,” Mr Kalumbi said.
South Africa was the third main export destination followed by Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom (UK).
The five countries collectively accounted for 81.1 per cent of Zambia’s total export earnings in February 2016.
On imports, Mr Kalumbi said the major import products by category in February 2016 were consumer goods, accounting for 36.8 per cent.
The capital goods category was second followed by intermediate goods category representing 18.4 per cent and raw material at 8.1 per cent.
Mr Kalumbi said in February and January 2016, the country had been a net importer of consumer goods, contributing an average of 38.5 per cent of the total exports.