Namibia Sends First AfCFTA Shipment to Nigeria with 45,000 Tonnes of Salt
AFCFTA aims to create a $3.4 trillion African market spanning 54 countries.
Namibia has officially launched its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with the shipment of 45,000 tonnes of salt to Nigeria, marking a historic milestone in the continent’s efforts to build a unified African market.
The shipment, produced by Walvis Bay Salt Holdings, departed from Namibia’s main port city of Walvis Bay and represents the country’s first trade transaction under AfCFTA—a landmark trade agreement aiming to eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods and facilitate the movement of capital, goods, and services across Africa.
At a launch event in Walvis Bay, Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, described the shipment as both economic and symbolic, signaling Namibia’s commitment to becoming a meaningful player in intra-African trade.
“Our goal is to ensure that Namibia is not only a signatory on paper but a true participant and beneficiary of the AfCFTA,” she said.
The Minister emphasized that Namibia’s strategic coastal position and trade infrastructure—particularly Namport and the Walvis Bay Corridor—give the country a logistical edge in serving not just local markets but also West, Central, and North Africa.
The 45,000 tonnes of salt were produced for export by Walvis Bay Salt Holdings, one of the region’s leading producers. But officials say this is just the beginning.
“Government will continue to create an enabling environment, but the private sector will be the true engine of this transformation,” Ashipala-Musavyi stated.
The Namibian government plans to launch a nationwide outreach campaign in July to educate businesses, especially SMEs, on how to take advantage of the AfCFTA. The effort will be jointly led by the Ministry of International Relations and the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.
From SACU to the Continent: Namibia’s Pivot to AfCFTA
Until now, Namibia’s trade has been largely confined to regional blocs such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, the AfCFTA presents an opportunity to expand beyond southern Africa and into a market of over 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of more than $3.4 trillion.
Namibia ratified the AfCFTA in 2019 and gazetted its tariff offer in December 2024, signaling its full readiness to participate. The country has spent the last four years preparing its business sector through outreach and capacity-building efforts.
“The success of AfCFTA depends on how well we embrace, network, and utilise its opportunities,” said Ashipala-Musavyi. “Harmonising policies, improving logistics, and boosting production capacity are all essential.”
Sending its first AfCFTA-bound shipment to Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and a key AfCFTA member, is no coincidence. The move is both strategic and symbolic, aiming to solidify economic ties between southern and western Africa.
Namibia’s shipment to Nigeria follows Nigeria’s own inaugural AfCFTA trade transaction to Kenya earlier this year, reflecting a growing momentum around the implementation of the continental trade pact.
A Symbol of Africa’s Trade Future
Beyond the salt, this initial shipment is being seen by policymakers and analysts as a symbolic act—a first step in rewiring the continent’s trade dynamics away from former colonial trade routes and toward intra-African economic collaboration.
Namibian media described it as a “modern echo” of Africa’s historical trading legacy, where commodities like salt, gold, and grain were central to the continent’s early commercial empires.
With its first shipment complete, Namibia is poised to deepen its integration into Africa’s largest free trade area. More sectors are expected to follow—including agriculture, processed foods, and manufacturing—if the necessary policy coordination, infrastructure investment, and private-sector engagement continue.
📌 Key Takeaways:
- Namibia shipped 45,000 tonnes of salt to Nigeria under the AfCFTA agreement.
- This is Namibia’s first official transaction under the continental trade pact.
- The government is launching nationwide outreach to help businesses leverage AfCFTA.
- The agreement aims to create a $3.4 trillion African market spanning 54 countries.
- Officials say private sector leadership is key to success.
As Africa works to reshape its economic future through the AfCFTA, Namibia’s salt shipment to Nigeria may prove to be a small grain with massive regional implications.
