Botswana's trade balance expected to rebound

According to the CSO, Botswana's imports for 2009 amounted to P33.3 billion while exports for the year amounted to P24 billion, resulting in an overall deficit of P9.3 billion.

In comparison, the trade deficit for 2008 was P2.5 billion. The 2009 deficit is largely due to the contraction of prime export industries such as diamond mining, textiles, copper/nickel and beef, due to the collapse of target markets in the grip of the global recession.