HARARE – A new factsheet from the United Kingdom (UK)’s Department for Business and Trade has revealed a substantial increase in trade between UK and Zimbabwe, with total trade in goods and services reaching £364 million in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, marking a 15.6% rise from the previous year.
The increase was driven by growth in both exports and imports. UK exports to Zimbabwe saw a notable 28.3% increase, totaling £177 million. Services were the main component of these exports, accounting for £126 million (71.2%), while goods made up £51 million.
The UK’s imports from Zimbabwe also grew, rising by 5.6% to £187 million. Services dominated Zimbabwe’s exports to the UK, amounting to £181 million (96.8%), with goods accounting for only £6 million.
According to the report, this trade dynamic resulted in a total trade deficit for the UK of £10 million, a significant reduction from the £39 million deficit recorded a year prior.
“This means the UK reported a total trade deficit of £10 million with Zimbabwe, compared to a trade deficit of £39 million in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024.
“In the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, the UK had a trade in goods surplus of £45 million with Zimbabwe, compared to a trade in goods surplus of £40 million in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024.
“Meanwhile, in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025 the UK reported a trade in services deficit of £55 million with Zimbabwe, compared to a trade in services deficit of £79 million in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024,” the department stated.
While the overall trade relationship is growing, it remains a small part of the UK’s global commerce, with Zimbabwe ranking as the 118th largest trading partner, accounting for less than 0.1% of total UK trade.
On the investment front, there was a noticeable decline, with the stock of UK Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Zimbabwe falling by 71.4% to £14 million at the end of 2023. Likewise, Zimbabwean FDI in the UK also decreased by 33.3% to £4 million in the same period.
Some of Zimbabwe’s key exports to the UK include fruits and vegetables, which experienced a 53.5% growth. Other notable exports are metals, beverages, jewelry, and tobacco. In contrast, the UK’s top imports to Zimbabwe are cars, machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
