THE United Arab Emirates accounted for 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s export earnings in April, cementing its position as the country’s largest export market and highlighting the growing impact of the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement drive.
Latest trade figures for April 2026, released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), show that despite a challenging global trading environment, the country generated US$792,3 million in export earnings, with the UAE leading demand for local products.
The development is being hailed as a major breakthrough for the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement policy, which has opened new markets and strengthened trade relations with strategic international partners.
South Africa accounted for 37,1 percent of exports, while China, Mozambique and Zambia followed with 3,7 percent, 2 percent and 1,7 percent respectively. Together, the five countries absorbed 94 percent of Zimbabwe’s exports.
Major exports to the African Continental Free Trade Area in April included nickel mattes, which accounted for 56,3 percent of the US$341,9 million worth of goods exported to the continent, followed by iron or steel products (8,3 percent), coke and semi-coke (6,7 percent) and nickel ores (4,4 percent).
Economic commentator Mr Peter Mhaka said the figures demonstrated the success of Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy.
“These figures show that Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy is yielding tangible results. The UAE has emerged as a strategic export market, providing a critical source of foreign currency earnings and creating opportunities for local producers to access global value chains,” he said.
Although Zimbabwe recorded a trade deficit of US$169,6 million in April, analysts said maintaining nearly US$800 million in export earnings amid fluctuating global conditions reflected the resilience of the economy.
Since 2017, the Second Republic has pursued an engagement and re-engagement strategy aimed at rebuilding international relations and expanding economic cooperation.
Economist Professor Gift Mugano said the policy had contributed to economic growth and trade diversification.
“The result of that drive is seen in the performance of the economy — our GDP used to be US$20 billion. In the Second Republic, we are now talking of about US$60 billion. It is evidence of the success of the engagement and re-engagement drive.
“This engagement has also seen a reconfiguration in terms of our trade diversification. South Africa used to dominate our trade, but that has tilted towards the UAE and other countries in Asia. China, in particular, is quite massive in terms of investment and trade with Zimbabwe,” he said.
Prof Mugano said trade links with the UAE had remained strong despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, noting that Africa’s economic ties with the region continued to grow as supply chains remained intact.
Among Zimbabwe’s top exports globally in April were semi-manufactured gold, which accounted for 49,7 percent of total exports, followed by nickel mattes (24,3 percent) and tobacco (3,9 percent).
Economic commentator Dr Davison Gomo said the UAE’s position as Zimbabwe’s largest export market was the culmination of years of sustained economic diplomacy and market development efforts.
“What you are seeing there is the culmination of so many carefully orchestrated strategies towards ensuring that we create an environment where the UAE will find most of the things it is looking for here in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dr Gomo said the growing trade relationship reflected Government’s success in building trust-based partnerships and opening new markets beyond traditional destinations.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s exports to the European Union amounted to just US$6,3 million in April, largely due to economic and geopolitical challenges affecting the bloc.
“However, the Government should continue building trust-based relationships with Europe while consolidating gains in the Middle East and other emerging markets,” Dr Gomo said.-herad
