By: Nghinomenwa-vali Hangala
Namibia’s monthly beverage exports show that alcohol beverages are the most exported. The beverages are mostly sold to SADC countries.
Namibia sells between 11, 000 and 13,000 hectolitres of beer to neighbouring countries in a monthly basis, according to the beverage sectoral report compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
South Africa remained Namibia’s leading export destination for beverages, accounting for more than 30% percent of total beverage exports every month.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked second, while Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe keep exchanging places.
Kenya is also one of the consumers of Namibian beverages, including beer.
According to the report, most of the country’s beverage exports are destined for African countries in the southern region, with Kenya being the farthest market.
South Africa has also proved to be one of the largest consumers of Namibian products, consuming almost everything Namibia produces.
In some months, South Africa has taken up 70% of Namibia’s beverages, including beer. highlighting the country’s market concentration.
In terms of beverage production, the latest monthly (June 2026) beverage production volume shows an increase in both beverage categories.
Non-alcoholic beverage production rose by 25.2%, while alcoholic beverage production increased by 10.3% during the month under review.
In absolute terms, total beverage production reached 290,742 hectolitres in June 2026, up from 250,517 hectolitres recorded in May 2026.
Nevertheless, output remained below 337,936 hectolitres produced in the same month of 2025, NSA observed.
The Non-Alcoholic Beverage Production Index increased by 25.2% on a month-on-month basis in June 2026, rebounding from a 24.7% decline recorded in May 2026.
In volume terms, non-alcoholic beverage production amounted to 120,549 hectolitres in June 2026, increasing from 96,260 hectolitres recorded in May 2026.
However, production remained below the 171,057 hectolitres produced in June 2025.
Alcoholic Beverage Production Index rose by 10.3% on a month-on-month basis in June 2026, recovering from an 11.1% decline recorded in May 2026.
On a year-on-year basis, the index also registered a 2% increase compared to the same month of 2025.
In June 2026, alcoholic beverage production reached 170,194 hectolitres, up from 154,257 hectolitres recorded in May 2026 and 166,879 hectolitres produced in the corresponding month of 2025.
For June 2026, total beverage exports stood at 17,552 hectolitres during the review period, down from 18 680 hectolitres exported in May 2026 and 30,333 hectolitres recorded in the same month of 2025.
Of the 17,470 hectolitres of alcoholic beverages exported during the period, beer accounted for the largest share with 73.9%, equivalent to 12,903 hectolitres.
During the review period, South Africa remained Namibia’s leading export destination for beverages, accounting for 34.6% of total beverage exports.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked second with a 23.3% share, followed by Tanzania and Zimbabwe, which accounted for 19.9 and 9.7% of total beverage exports, respectively.
