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Zimbabwe
(information)
Population as of 2020: 14.86 million 73 of 193
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Region: East Africa
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $44.19 billion 98 of 193
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Top Exports
Total exports: **~$7.4 billion (2024)** **Highly concentrated economy:** minerals and metals account for **~75%+ of exports** | Rank | Export Category | Notes | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **Precious metals & stones (gold, platinum, diamonds)**⭐ | Largest category (~$2.85B) | | 2 | **Tobacco & tobacco products** ⭐ | ~20%+ of exports | | 3 | **Nickel & nickel products** | Major mining export | | 4 | **Ores, slag & ash** | Includes chrome, lithium, and other minerals | | 5 | **Iron & steel** | Ferroalloys and industrial metals | | 6 | **Salt, sulphur, earth & stone** | Includes cement and mineral materials | | 7 | **Mineral fuels (coal, petroleum products)** | Smaller energy exports | | 8 | **Sugars & sugar products** | Agricultural export | | 9 | **Cotton & textiles** | Traditional agricultural sector | | 10 | **Tea, coffee & spices** | Minor agricultural exports | Key individual export products (by value) | Rank | Product | Notes | | ---- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | 11 | **Gold (semi-manufactured & bullion)** | #1 export (~30–40%) | | 12 | **Unmanufactured tobacco** | #2 export (~17–23%) | | 13 | **Nickel mattes** | Key industrial metal | | 14 | **Nickel ores & concentrates** | Mining export | | 15 | **Ferrochrome (ferro-alloys)** | Steel industry input | | 16 | **Diamonds (rough)** | Precious stones export | | 17 | **Platinum (unwrought)** | High-value metal | | 18 | **Lithium ores (spodumene)** | Fast-growing battery mineral | | 19 | **Chrome ores & concentrates** | Steelmaking material | | 20 | **Coal & coke** | Energy-related export | Key Takeaways * 🥇 **Gold dominates exports:** * The single largest export, often **~30–40% of total** * 🚬 **Tobacco is the second pillar:** * A major agricultural export contributing **~20%+** * ⛏️ **Mining drives the economy:** * Nickel, platinum, chrome, and lithium are key exports * 🔋 **Lithium is rising fast:** * Zimbabwe is becoming a **major global lithium exporter** (battery supply chain) * ⚠️ **High concentration:** * Minerals + tobacco dominate the export structure Top Importers of Zimbabwe’s Exports (2024) | Rank | Country | Notes | | ---- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **United Arab Emirates** | Largest buyer; gold trading hub. | | 2 | **South Africa** | Regional trade; minerals, fuels, manufactured goods. | | 3 | **China** | Lithium, nickel, chrome, and minerals. | | 4 | **Hong Kong** | Gold and precious metals hub. | | 5 | **United Kingdom** | Platinum and precious metals. | | 6 | **Mozambique** | Regional trade partner; fuels and goods. | | 7 | **Zambia** | Cross-border trade; minerals and agriculture. | | 8 | **India** | Gold, diamonds, and minerals. | | 9 | **Belgium** | Diamond trading hub (Antwerp). | | 10 | **Netherlands** | Tobacco and agricultural products. | Key Patterns * 🪙 **Gold drives global trade hubs**: * **UAE and Hong Kong** dominate due to **gold refining and trading** * 🔋 **Battery minerals link to China**: * China imports **lithium, nickel, and chrome** * 🚬 **Tobacco connects to Europe**: * EU countries import tobacco for processing * 🌍 **Regional trade still important**: * **South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia** are key nearby markets
