Trade deficit eases in 2025

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 210 Views |

Expanding: Khoemacau's operations contributed to easing the trade deficit last year. The copper producer is expanding operations this year PIC: MMG.COM

The country’s merchandise trade balance eased to a deficit of P12.4 billion last year, compared to a shortfall of P34.5 billion in 2024, helped by higher exports of diamonds and copper.

Figures released by Statistics Botswana indicate that softer imports of diamonds for the year also contributed to the improved numbers. Under the agreement with De Beers, Botswana imports diamonds from the company’s mines around the world, which are then sorted and sold from Gaborone, for export to buyers globally.

Statistics Botswana’s figures show that for 2025, diamond exports rose to P53.9 billion from about P44 billion in 2024. Copper exports reached P11.03 billion in 2025, compared to P10.06 billion in the prior year.

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