Top Zambia Imports 2018
In 2018, Zambia bought US$9.5 billion worth of imported products down by -0.6% since 2014 but up by 8.8% from 2017 to 2018.
Top 10 Zambian Imports from South Africa
South Africa's exports to Zambia amounted to
$2.7 billion or 28.8% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $441.2 million
2. Vehicles: $277.8 million
3. Fertilizers: $188.8 million
4. Plastics: $167.4 million
5. Mineral fuels including oil: $158.3 million
6. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $151.5 million
7. Electronic equipment: $139.8 million
8. Iron and steel: $127.6 million
9. Iron or steel products: $121.9 million
10. Other chemical goods: $81.3 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from Congo
Democratic Rep. Congo's exports to Zambia were
$1.4 billion or 14.7% of its overall imports.
1. Ores, slag, ash: $1.3 billion
2. Inorganic chemicals: $111.4 million
3. Copper: $5.3 million
4. Other base metals: $3.2 million
5. Electronic equipment: $1.5 million
6. Lead: $1.1 million
7. Machinery: $957,000
8. Zinc: $198,000
9. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $143,000
10. Plastics: $135,000
Top 10 Zambian Imports from China
China's exports to Zambia amounted to
$1.3 billion or 13.6% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $335.4 million
2. Electronic equipment: $241.8 million
3. Vehicles: $173.7 million
4. Iron or steel products: $165.1 million
5. Iron and steel: $47.6 million
6. Plastics: $33.3 million
7. Furniture, lighting, signs: $30.9 million
8. Rubber: $29.5 million
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $26.9 million
10. Inorganic chemicals: $22.2 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from the UAE
UAE's exports to Zambia amounted to
$596.5 million or 6.3% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $379.4 million
2. Organic chemicals: $46.8 million
3. Machinery: $44.7 million
4. Fertilizers: $37.3 million
5. Vehicles: $11.9 million
6. Inorganic chemicals: $10 million
7. Pharmaceuticals: $9.5 million
8. Plastics: $9.1 million
9. Other textiles, worn clothing: $7.5 million
10. Electronic equipment: $7.2 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from India
India's exports to Zambia amounted to
$443.2 million or 4.7% of its overall imports.
1. Pharmaceuticals: $151.8 million
2. Electronic equipment: $62.8 million
3. Machinery: $59.8 million
4. Plastics: $24.9 million
5. Vehicles: $19.9 million
6. Glass: $16.7 million
7. Iron or steel products: $12.2 million
8. Other chemical goods: $9.1 million
9. Books, newspapers, pictures: $6.6 million
10. Rubber: $6.6 million
Top Zambian Imports from Kuwait
Kuwait's exports to Zambia amounted to
$441.3 million or 4.7% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $440.5 million
2. Fertilizers: $769,000
3. Live animals: $1,000
Top 10 Zambian Imports from Mauritius
Mauritius' exports to Zambia amounted to
$206.4 million or 2.2% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $135.7 million
2. Machinery: $21.5 million
3. Fertilizers: $16.1 million
4. Inorganic chemicals: $10.3 million
5. Electronic equipment: $4.9 million
6. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $2.9 million
7. Vehicles: $2.4 million
8. Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.9 million
9. Other chemical goods: $1.8 million
10. Rubber: $1.4 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from the US
America's exports to Zambia amounted to
$195.1 million or 2.1% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $73.1 million
2. Vehicles: $51.6 million
3. Rubber: $12.3 million
4. Other chemical goods: $9.5 million
5. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $8.6 million
6. Electronic equipment: $5.9 million
7. Plastics: $4.9 million
8. Base metal tools, cutlery: $4.4 million
9. Iron or steel products: $3.4 million
10. Medical, technical equipment: $3.2 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from the UK
United Kingdom's exports to Zambia amounted to $185.8 million or 2.0% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $68.7 million
2. Vehicles: $51.9 million
3. Electronic equipment: $13.2 million
4. Books, newspapers, pictures: $8.6 million
5. Pharmaceuticals: $6.3 million
6. Iron or steel products: $5.6 million
7. Medical, technical equipment: $5.3 million
8. Other chemical goods: $4.7 million
9. Plastics: $3.6 million
10. Iron and steel: $2.7 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from Tanzania
Tanzania's exports to Zambia amounted to
$181 million or 1.9% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $146.1 million
2. Other textiles, worn clothing: $4.6 million
3. Plastics: $4.1 million
4. Ceramic products: $3.7 million
5. Iron and steel: $3 million
6. Vehicles: $2.7 million
7. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $2.2 million
8. Machinery: $1.9 million
9. Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.7 million
10. Fertilizers: $1.4 million
Top 10 Zambian Imports from Japan
Japan's exports to Zambia amounted to
$168.9 million or 1.8% of its overall imports.
1. Vehicles: $128.6 million
2. Rubber: $9.8 million
3. Machinery: $8.9 million
4. Iron and steel: $8.9 million
5. Other chemical goods: $4.6 million
6. Medical, technical equipment: $2.6 million
7. Electronic equipment: $2 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $1.1 million
9. Iron or steel products: $900,000
10. Man-made staple fibers: $363,000
Fastest-Growing Zambia Imports
Research Note:
Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
