Oranges market in Namibia

Earlier Report Observations

The orange market in Namibia from 2018 to 2023 was characterized by stable domestic production averaging around 2 000 t per year, but large fluctuations in import volumes drove significant changes in total market size. The establishment of the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) and the implementation of the Seed and Seed Varieties Act No. 23 of 2018 provided a regulatory framework for horticulture, including certification for nurseries and orchards, which supported the domestic production base concentrated in the South and Orange River areas.

Market volume surged from 4 517 t in 2018 to a peak of 7 393 t in 2021, primarily fueled by rising imports. This growth coincided with a period of lower import prices, falling to $0.59 per kg in 2019, which made foreign oranges more affordable. The market contraction to 5 245 t by 2023 aligned with a return of import prices to around $1.00 per kg, reflecting broader supply and inflationary pressures. The high import dependency, with over 90% of citrus consumption met by imports in some years, made the total market volume highly sensitive to these international price movements and regional supply from South Africa.

The citrus season in Namibia aligns with South Africa's, creating a synchronized regional production window. Ongoing institutional support from the NAB, including market intelligence reports aimed at facilitating the citrus sector, contributed to the market's structure. While domestic production remained steady, the overall market size was ultimately dictated by the volatile interplay of import pricing and regional availability.

Production oranges in Namibia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of oranges, 2017-2020

World map of production of oranges, 2017-2020

Namibia's orange production saw a two-year improvement before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 2,035 tonnes, with a modest increase of 0.5%. However, in 2020, production fell to 1,979 tonnes, marking a slight decrease of 2.7% compared to the previous year.

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

Exports oranges from Namibia

Exports in kind, t

The export market for oranges from Namibia showed significant volatility during this period. In 2019, exports peaked at 25 tonnes, reflecting a substantial increase of 176.5%. By contrast, in 2020, exports dropped sharply to just 1 tonne, a dramatic fall of 96.7% year-on-year, resulting in a 30-fold gap between the two years.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Angola was the nearly exclusive buyer of oranges from Namibia, accounting for 98.9% of total exports in volume.

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

Export values for oranges from Namibia experienced irregular changes, indicating a volatile market. In 2019, values reached their highest point at 15,000 US dollars, with an increase of 104.9%. In 2020, however, exports fell to 1,000 US dollars, a sharp decrease of 94.2% compared to the previous year, representing a 17-fold shift.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, oranges from Namibia were primarily shipped to Angola, which absorbed 98.0% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports oranges to Namibia

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes for oranges in Namibia displayed an unstable trend. In 2018, imports hit their lowest point at 2,501 tonnes, with a decline of 30.4%. The following year, in 2019, imports surged to a peak of 4,735 tonnes, an increase of 89.3%. By 2020, imports fell to 4,019 tonnes, a solid drop of 15.1% compared to 2019, resulting in a 1.9-fold difference between the peak and low points.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the key and almost sole source for orange imports into Namibia, making up 99.7% of total import volumes.

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

Import values for oranges in Namibia showed mixed trends. In 2018, values reached their maximum at 2,001,000 US dollars, with an increase of 28.7%. The following year, in 2019, values declined by 8.3%. By 2020, imports amounted to a total value, reflecting a slight rise of 0.6% compared to the previous year. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 18.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.9%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, the import structure in value terms was dominated by a single market: South Africa, with a share of 99.6% of total flows.

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

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