N$12.7 Billion Worth of Merchandise Flowed Through Walvis Bay in August
By: Anton Wokie Mbinge
The port of Walvis Bay has handled N$12.7 billion worth of international merchandise trade in August 2026, underscoring the port’s growing importance as Namibia’s main gateway to global markets.
The Namibia Statistics Agency`s (NSA) latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin reports that the coastal port accounted for N$6.1 billion in exports and N$6.6 billion in imports during the month, making it Namibia’s leading point of entry and exit for international merchandise trade.
The scale of activity puts Walvis Bay at the centre of Namibia’s trade economy, connecting local producers and importers with markets around the world.
According to the bulletin, nearly half of Namibia’s exports by value moved by sea in August, with maritime transport accounting for 49.3% of total exports. Export volumes transported by sea reached 267,234 tonnes, up 93.6% from August 2025 and 19.6% from July.
The goods moving through maritime routes included some of Namibia’s key export commodities, such as uranium, fish and nickel ores and concentrates, reflecting the port’s role in moving mining, fishing and other products to international markets.
The NSA further reports that Walvis Bay was equally significant on the import side, handling N$6.6 billion worth of goods in August. This was almost double the N$3.3 billion recorded through Ariamsvlei and nearly three times the N$2.3 billion recorded through the Trans-Kalahari border post.
Sea transport accounted for 41.7% of Namibia’s total import value, with petroleum oils, sulphur and unroasted iron pyrites, and mechanical handling equipment among the goods entering the country through maritime routes.
Import volumes transported by sea reached 323,201 tonnes, representing a 57.7% increase compared with August 2025.
The bulletin noted, the figures come as Namibia continues to expand its connections to international markets. In August alone, the country exported to 105 markets and imported from 162 markets, highlighting the importance of efficient trade infrastructure.
For businesses operating around Walvis Bay, the billions moving through the port also create opportunities beyond shipping itself. Transporters, freight forwarders, warehouses, customs agents, equipment suppliers, logistics technology companies and other service providers form part of the wider economic ecosystem supported by rising trade activity.
