Trade deficit widens to P5.6bn

Figures released late last month by Statistics Botswana also indicate that the September deficit of P3.9 billion was revised deeper to P4.5 billion. Both the September and the October deficits are the first recorded in 2023 and are directly linked to a crash in diamond exports seen in the second half of the year.

According to Statistics Botswana data, diamond exports have slowed from a peak of P7.3 billion in March, to October’s low of P1.3 billion.