Pepper market in Namibia, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

The pepper market in Namibia experienced considerable changes in volume from 2018 to 2023. After starting at 468.9 tons in 2018, market size surged by 56% to 733.1 tons in 2019, driven primarily by a sharp increase in imports. Subsequently, the market contracted to 533.6 tons in 2020 and further to 470.5 tons in 2021, before recovering to 534.4 tons in 2022 and reaching 582.4 tons in 2023.

Domestic production showed similar volatility, rising from 400 tons in 2018 to 482.5 tons in 2019, then falling to 382.5 tons in 2020. Production gradually recovered to 471.1 tons by 2023. Trade flows played a key role in market dynamics, with imports peaking at 251.3 tons in 2019 and exports remaining minimal except for a few years like 2018 when 84.7 tons were shipped out.

In 2024, pepper imports rose to 153.5 tons while exports dropped to 0.1 ton. This occurred against a backdrop of political change, with the election of Namibia's first female president in December 2024 and government efforts to reduce bureaucratic barriers, potentially improving market access for goods including pepper.

Production pepper in Namibia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Namibia ranked as the world's 30th largest producer of pepper.

Top producers of pepper, 2017-2020

World map of production of pepper, 2017-2020

After two years of growth, Namibia's pepper production volume declined. In 2020, the country produced 382.5 tons of pepper, which was 20.7% lower than in 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 27.5%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 8.4%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 482.5 tons, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018 at 33.3%.

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

Exports pepper from Namibia

Exports in kind, t

Namibia's pepper exports declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 0.2 tons, representing a 68.2% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 99.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -89.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, nearly all of Namibia's pepper exports in volume terms went to Spain, which accounted for 99.4% 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 export market showed volatility during the observed period. Exports peaked in 2018 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 626-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the value of pepper exports from Namibia was 1 000 US dollars, a sharp decline of 65.0% from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 523 000 US dollars. The largest year-on-year decrease occurred in 2019 at 99.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 50.1%.

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

In 2017–2020, the geographical distribution of pepper exports in value terms was heavily concentrated on Spain, which absorbed 99.5% of total flows.

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

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

Imports pepper to Namibia

Imports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 3.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, pepper imports into Namibia amounted to 151.4 tons, marking a sharp contraction of 39.8% compared to the previous year. The largest year-on-year decline was recorded in 2018 at 71.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 63.6%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, South Africa dominated Namibia's pepper imports in volume terms, with a share of 71.5% of total flows; other markets had comparatively modest shares.

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

Namibia's pepper imports declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 302 000 US dollars, marking a steep reduction of 41.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 72.6%, equating to an average annual decline of 35.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Zimbabwe accounted for the bulk of Namibia's pepper imports in value terms, jointly taking 99.1% 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