Botswana has achieved a merchandise trade surplus of P943.8 million in April 2025, marking the country’s first trade surplus in 16 months, following a streak of deficits dating back to December 2023.
The surplus was primarily driven by a 29.2% increase in total exports, which rose to P7,623.3 million, up from P5,898.9 million in March 2025. The growth was fueled largely by diamond exports, which soared by 46.0% (P1,917.9 million), underlining the commodity's continued dominance in Botswana’s export basket.
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| Source: Statistics Botswana |
Conversely, imports fell by 12.4% to P6,679.5 million in April, down from the revised March 2025 figure of P7,624.8 million. The decline was led by steep drops in imports of Diamonds and Machinery & Electrical Equipment, which decreased by 65.0% (P668.1 million) and 21.4% (P253.9 million), respectively.
Imports of Food, Beverages & Tobacco, as well as Chemicals & Rubber Products, also declined, contributing further to the overall drop.