Zambia has recorded the highest trade deficit in the country in October at K2.7 billion Kwacha.
This represents a 53.7% increase from the K1.8 billion recorded in September 2018.
Central Statistical Office Acting Director for Census and Statistics Goodson Sinyenga says this means that the country imported more than it exported in nominal terms.
He has indicated that imports increased by 20.0% from K9.2 billion in September 2018 to K11.1 billion million in October 2018.
Mr. Sinyenga has attributed this to the increase in the imports of consumer which have increased to K2.8 billion in October 2018 from the recorded K2.1 billion recorded in September 2018 representing a 30.5% increase.
He has further disclosed that exports increased to K8.4 billion in October 2018 from K7.5 billion in September 2018 representing a 12.2% increase.
The CSO Acting Director has attributed the increase in the value of exports to an increase in consumer and intermediate goods exports which have increased by 52.2% and 5.5% respectively.
He says the Traditional Export Earnings increased from K5.6 billion in September to K5.8 billion in October 2018, representing a 3.1% increase while Non Traditional Exports earnings increased by 39.5% from K1.9 billion in September to K2.6 billion in October 2018.