Botswana's trade balance shifted to a deficit of BWP 3211 million in July 2019 from a surplus of BWP 447.3 million in the same month a year ago. This is the largest trade shortfall since July 2012, as exports tumbled 41.4 percent to BWP 2,645.9 million, mainly dragged down by lower shipments of diamonds (-49.2 percent). Main export partners were India (23.1 percent of total exports), Belgium (19.6 percent), the UAE (13.2 percent), South Africa (11.7 percent) and Hong Kong (11.7 percent). In contrast, imports grew 31.2 percent to BWP 5,856.8 million, boosted by purchases of diamonds (67.8 percent) and machinery & electrical equipment (21.1 percent). Main import partners were South Africa (56.6 percent of total imports), Canada (9.4 percent), Other Africa (9.3 percent) and India (4.1 percent). Balance of Trade in Botswana averaged -114.15 BWP Million from 2005 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 4102.21 BWP Million in March of 2007 and a record low of -6683 BWP Million in July of 2012.
Balance of Trade in Botswana is expected to be -116.59 BWP Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Botswana to stand at -91.10 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Botswana Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 255.19 BWP Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.