Citrus fruit market in Namibia

Earlier Report Observations

The citrus fruit market in Namibia expanded sharply to 10 997 t in 2019 from 7 653 t the previous year. This growth was supported by the Namibia Agronomic Board's ongoing promotion of production and marketing, while improved access to critical pesticides and fertilizers through specialist distributor AGRA Namibia enhanced input availability for growers.

Market volume dipped to 10 317 t in 2020 but recovered to a peak of 11 825 t in 2021, driven by announced large-scale investments like the N$600 million project in the Kunene region to establish new citrus plantations. The market stabilized at 11 759 t in 2022 as these expansion efforts were counterbalanced by persistently high production costs and competitive pressure from cheap imports.

A significant contraction to 9 531 t occurred in 2023, primarily due to drought conditions that damaged yields. This decline happened alongside the entry of new players through a partnership with fruit breeder Sun World to cultivate novel varieties, signaling long-term sector development despite immediate climatic challenges.

Production citrus fruit in Namibia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

World map of production of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

Citrus fruit production in Namibia improved for two years before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 4,070 tonnes, with a modest increase of 0.5% that year. However, in 2020, production fell to 3,958 tonnes, marking a 2.7% decrease compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Namibia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports citrus fruit from Namibia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2017, exports reached their highest point, while in 2020, they hit their lowest, with a 24-fold difference between these years. In 2019, exports saw the largest increase at 150.5%. By 2020, citrus fruit shipments from Namibia abroad dropped sharply to just 2 tonnes, representing a dramatic 94.8% year-over-year decline.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Namibia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Angola and South Africa formed the core of Namibia's citrus fruit exports in volume, together accounting for 98.8% of total shipments.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Namibia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 22-fold gap between these years. In 2019, exports recorded the largest increase at 52.3%. In 2020, Namibia's citrus fruit export value fell sharply to 2,000 US dollars, marking a significant 90.2% year-over-year loss.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Namibia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the two leading destinations for Namibia's citrus fruit exports in value were Angola and South Africa, which together made up 98.1% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Namibia in value, 2017-2020

Imports citrus fruit to Namibia

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 3,615 tonnes, with the largest decline that year at 27.2%. In 2019, imports peaked at 6,959 tonnes, showing the largest increase of 92.5% and creating a 1.9-fold gap compared to 2018. In 2020, citrus fruit imports into Namibia totaled 6,361 tonnes, representing a gradual 8.6% drop from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Namibia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was overwhelmingly the main source for Namibia's citrus fruit imports in volume, accounting for 99.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Namibia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Citrus fruit imports into Namibia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports reached their maximum at 3,663,000 US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 26.5%. In 2019, imports saw the largest decline of 6.2%. By 2020, imports amounted to 3,417,000 US dollars, showing a slight reduction of 0.6% compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 18%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Namibia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, citrus fruit imports into Namibia were almost exclusively supplied by South Africa, which absorbed 99.6% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Namibia in value, 2017-2020