Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to translate growing export earnings into lasting international supply partnerships, with merchandise exports rising by 61 percent to US$10.4 billion in the first nine months of 2026, as the Government intensifies economic diplomacy and market-access initiatives to expand the country’s presence in regional and global trade.
The export performance, announced by ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer Mr Allan T. Majuru at the 2026 Export Week Buyers’ Seminar in Harare, represents a significant improvement from the US$6.48 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. Imports increased by 34.8 percent to US$9.76 billion from US$7.24 billion, leaving the country with a trade surplus of US$637.4 million, compared with a deficit of US$764 million in the same period last year.
The figures point to a changing trade position, with export growth outpacing import growth and Zimbabwe moving into a merchandise trade surplus. More importantly, they raise the prospect of exports becoming a stronger source of foreign currency, industrial investment and productive expansion, provided the momentum is sustained and increasingly driven by locally processed and manufactured goods.
Addressing regional and international buyers at Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Albert R. Chimbindi described export development as a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s economic diplomacy, stressing that the country’s diplomatic missions are increasingly being used to facilitate market access, identify commercial opportunities and connect local businesses with international buyers.
The seminar brought together buyers from Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Angola, the United Kingdom, Poland, China and Germany, providing a platform for direct engagement with Zimbabwean producers. The participating markets reflect the importance of diversifying export destinations while strengthening established regional trade relationships.
Mr Majuru said the engagements were intended to move beyond product exhibitions and general networking towards concrete commercial arrangements. Opportunities identified during the Bulawayo leg of Export Week included supplier linkages involving Mealie Brand, Ecomed and SeedCo, with discussions aimed at supporting agricultural development in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Eswatini.
Further opportunities presented in Harare included processed food supplies to Zambia, agricultural inputs and implements for Mozambique’s food security programme, building and construction materials for Rwanda, and mining equipment, consumables and services for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mineral sector.
These opportunities illustrate the commercial potential of matching Zimbabwe’s productive capacity with identifiable demand in neighbouring and international markets. They also demonstrate how export development can extend beyond the traditional shipment of raw commodities to include manufactured goods, agricultural technology, professional services and industrial supplies.
The significance of this approach lies in its potential to create a more integrated export economy. A Zimbabwean company securing a regional supply contract does not only earn foreign currency; it can also expand production, purchase more inputs from local suppliers, invest in machinery, recruit additional workers and develop the capacity to meet more demanding international standards. The wider economic benefit therefore depends on how deeply export growth is connected to domestic production and employment.
Ambassador Chimbindi said the changing global trading environment, characterised by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, sustainability requirements and shifting supply chains, presents Zimbabwe with an opportunity to strengthen its participation in regional and international value chains. He urged local companies to recognise that international competitiveness increasingly depends on consistent quality, reliable delivery schedules, certification, innovation and responsiveness to market requirements.
One of the most significant market-access developments highlighted at the seminar was China’s expanded zero-tariff framework for African countries, which offers Zimbabwean exporters an opportunity to reach one of the world’s largest consumer markets. The framework could create new prospects for agricultural, horticultural, manufactured and value-added products, although the benefits will depend on the ability of local producers to meet the required volumes, standards and logistical demands.
Zimbabwe’s progress in negotiating export protocols for blueberries, citrus and avocados was also highlighted as evidence of efforts to broaden agricultural market access. These products are particularly important because horticulture can generate export earnings, support commercial farming and create employment across production, packaging, cold-chain logistics and distribution.
The challenge is to ensure that market access translates into consistent supply. International buyers require dependable production volumes, traceability, quality assurance and compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards. Without adequate investment in irrigation, storage, transport, packaging and certification, access to lucrative markets may remain an opportunity that local producers struggle to fully exploit.
The commissioning of the Honey Testing and Profiling Laboratory under the Zimbabwe Bee for Economic Empowerment Project demonstrates the importance of building national quality infrastructure. Ambassador Chimbindi said the facility provides internationally recognised testing and certification services to help Zimbabwean honey producers meet demanding export requirements, particularly in high-value markets such as the European Union.
Beyond honey exports, the investment illustrates how quality infrastructure can open markets for smallholder producers who might otherwise struggle to satisfy international compliance requirements. By improving traceability and quality assurance, such facilities can connect rural production systems to more sophisticated export markets while supporting rural industrialisation and community-based enterprise development.
Zimbabwe’s regional and continental trade arrangements also provide a foundation for expanding export opportunities. The Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area offer preferential market access and opportunities for businesses to participate in regional value chains. The United Kingdom-Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement and China’s expanded zero-tariff framework further widen the country’s potential trading relationships.
However, preferential access alone does not guarantee export success. Businesses must understand the applicable rules of origin, standards, documentation and market requirements. Trade facilitation, efficient border procedures, reliable transport infrastructure and predictable regulatory systems will be essential in reducing the cost of doing business and allowing Zimbabwean products to compete effectively.
The country’s recent hosting of the COMESA Business Forum, which attracted more than 150 exhibitors and over 1,000 delegates, also reflects the growing importance of regional commercial engagement. Such platforms can strengthen business-to-business relationships, but their long-term value will be measured by the investments, supply contracts and cross-border partnerships that emerge from them.
Ambassador Chimbindi emphasised that the future of Zimbabwe’s export growth lies in value addition and beneficiation, arguing that the country must progressively move away from exporting raw commodities towards processed and manufactured products. This is particularly important for an economy with significant mineral and agricultural resources, where a greater share of the value generated from production can be retained locally through processing, manufacturing and supporting industries.
The export agenda must therefore be linked to industrialisation. Growing demand for processed foods, agricultural inputs, construction materials and mining equipment can stimulate domestic manufacturing, while increased exports can provide the foreign currency required to import machinery, technology and specialised production inputs. This creates a relationship between external trade and domestic industrial capacity that could strengthen the wider economy.
The inclusion of women-owned businesses, youth-led enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises was another important issue raised by the Permanent Secretary. Their participation is necessary if export growth is to extend beyond established large companies and create broader opportunities across the economy. However, smaller enterprises will require access to finance, technology, certification, production infrastructure and market intelligence to compete successfully in international markets.
Mr Majuru acknowledged the support of Stanbic Bank and Afreximbank in delivering the Buyers’ Seminars, while also recognising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for its role in advancing trade promotion through diplomatic missions and international engagements.
Ultimately, the significance of the 2026 Buyers’ Seminar will be determined by what follows the discussions. The rise in merchandise exports and the return to a trade surplus provide encouraging indicators, but sustaining the progress will require Zimbabwean businesses to convert buyer interest into contracts, contracts into consistent production and production into higher-value exports.
Zimbabwe is increasingly positioning trade as an instrument of economic diplomacy and industrial transformation. The next challenge is to ensure that international market opportunities generate stronger domestic industries, more competitive enterprises, employment and a greater share of value retained within the national economy.
