A Local Economist has attributed the trade surplus that was recorded for January 2019 to decreased local demand which he says led to reduced imports and culminated into the recorded surplus.
Munyumba Mutwale of Vennex Capital explains that the import prices increased due to constrained local credit markets as a result of increased imports and having a weakening impact on the local currency.
He says this left consumers with no option than to buy domestic products as prices remained lower than the imported Products.
He therefore describes the surplus as an auto-correct Mechanism in the economy which he says may not necessarily mean that the country’s trade performance has stabilized.
He says in a telephone interview with Money FM News that a stable local trade performance will only be assured if the surplus is maintained for February and March.
Zambia has for the first time in over four years recorded a Trade Surplus in January 2019.
Central Statistical Office Acting Director for Census and Statistics Iven Sikanyiti says Zambia recorded a trade surplus of K938 Million in January 2019 from a trade deficit of K543.9 Million recorded in December 2018.

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