The country’s exports and imports declined in the first part of the year as a result of falls in key commodities during the period, Statistics Botswana has stated. According to the data agency’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics-Monthly Digest May 2026, Botswana’s imported goods valued at P8, 065.5 million experiencing a decrease of 4.1 percent from the revised April 2026 value of P8, 408.4 million.
The leading import commodity groups were fuel and diamonds at 24.5% and 19.1% of the total, respectively. “The overall fall was driven by a decrease in Vehicles & Transport Equipment and Machinery & Electrical Equipment imports by 67.2% (P915.2 million) and 15.8 percent (P227.8 million), respectively.”
On the other hand, the value of exports amounted to P4, 817.5 million, which was a 22.4% decrease compared to the revised export value of P6, 209.7 million recorded in April 2026. Statistics Botswana said diamonds and copper were the most exported commodities accounting for 59.0% 25.6% of total exports respectively.
“The fall was mainly driven by Diamonds and Copper exports, which fell by 23.1 percent (P856.0 million) and 27.9 percent (P477.9 million) correspondingly,” Statistics Botswana explained.
Despite the decline in imports, in May 2026, Botswana recorded a trade deficit of P3. 2 billion, the second largest this year with data showing the largest deficit was P4. 4 billion recorded in February 2026.
The top imported commodity groups to the country include fuel; diamonds and machinery & electrical equipment, followed by food, beverages & tobacco.
Statistics Botswana highlighted that fuel was the largest contributor to total imports, accounting for 24.5% (P1, 974.6 million), followed by Diamonds, which contributed 19.1% (P1, 543.5 million). Machinery & Electrical Equipment and Food, Beverages & Tobacco accounted for 15.0% (P1, 210.2 million) and 13.9% (P1, 117.7 million), respectively.
On the export front, diamonds remained the dominant export commodity group, with a contribution of 59.0% (P2, 844.5 million) to total exports, followed by copper at 25.6% (P1, 234.2 million). Machinery & Electrical Equipment ranked third, with a contribution of 5.6 percent (P270.6 million).
Mining remains the mainstay of the economy with copper now competing with diamonds for a top spot. This is despite headwinds in the global trading systems that are battering the local economy. Recently, De Beers said Despite increase in production De Beers still face headwinds with manmade diamonds and war between the United States and Iran exacerbating the situation.
“The geopolitical and macroeconomic landscape remains uncertain, with the onset of the conflict in the Middle East adding to economic and consumer confidence risks,” it said.
“Synthetic lab-grown diamonds also continued to affect demand for lower value natural diamonds adding pressure in more price-sensitive categories.”