Zambia-USA Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $363.20M total volume •Zambia deficit: $60.08M

ZambiaUSA

$151.56M

Exports (2023)

USAZambia

$211.64M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$60.08M

Deficit for Zambia

Total Trade

$363.20M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Zambia and USA. Green line shows exports from Zambia, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Zambia-USA commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

ZambiaUSA Exports

$151.56M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
47.2% top product
1Stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set
$71.59M
47.2% of exports
2Copper: copper alloys n.e.c. in heading no. 7403 (other than master alloys of heading no. 7405)
$33.07M
21.8% of exports
3Copper: refined, unwrought, cathodes and sections of cathodes
$18.21M
12.0% of exports
4Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$7.30M
4.8% of exports
5Copper: unrefined, copper anodes for electrolytic refining
$4.69M
3.1% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Zambia's export portfolio to USA demonstrates strategic specialization, with stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

USAZambia Imports

$211.64M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
12.4% concentration
1Petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals
$26.32M
12.4% of imports
2Vehicles: dumpers, designed for off-highway use, for transport of goods
$25.48M
12.0% of imports
3Machinery: parts of machines handling earth, minerals or ores and n.e.c. in heading no. 8431
$17.00M
8.0% of imports
4Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on construction, mining or industrial handling vehicles and machines
$10.65M
5.0% of imports
5Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$5.61M
2.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Zambia's import pattern from USA reveals strategic sourcingin petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Zambia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingstones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set to USA, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsstrongcomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Highly Balanced
📈

Growth Potential

The $363.20M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Zambia-USA Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $363.20 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Zambia maintains a deficit of $60.08 million
  • Export Focus: Zambia's primary exports include stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set, copper: copper alloys n.e.c. in heading no. 7403 (other than master alloys of heading no. 7405), copper: refined, unwrought, cathodes and sections of cathodes
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from USA include petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals, vehicles: dumpers, designed for off-highway use, for transport of goods, machinery: parts of machines handling earth, minerals or ores and n.e.c. in heading no. 8431

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthBalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $363.20M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Zambia leveraging its comparative advantages in stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Zambia's specialization in stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or setcomplements USA's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $363.20M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyModerate
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $363.20M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $363.20 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set and petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Zambia's trade deficit of $60.08 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Well Balanced

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in copper: copper alloys n.e.c. in heading no. 7403 (other than master alloys of heading no. 7405) present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Zambia and USA represents a total trade volume of $363.20 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Zambia, with imports exceeding exportsby $60.08 million.

Export Strengths

Zambia's exports to USA total $151.56 million, with competitive advantages in stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked (other than simply sawn or roughly shaped), not strung, mounted or set, representing $71.59M or47.2% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from USA amount to $211.64 million, highlighting economic interdependence in petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals, with Petroleum coke: (not calcined), obtained from bituminous minerals comprising12.4% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Zambia's strategic sourcing from USA. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Zambia and USA in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023