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The twenty imports Zimbabwe is best placed to replace.

Zimbabwe imported USD 6.3bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 3.1bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 802mthe twenty, imported in 2024
64products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
176products Zimbabwe already exports well
140product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Zimbabwe already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Zimbabwe would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Zimbabwe does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromZambia 100%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMineral substances: n.e.c. in chapter 25 (exports USD 831m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 30m
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 54m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); Zambia supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 54mup 12% on 2022
  2. 2

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromSouth Africa 81%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIvory and articles thereof: worked (exports USD 59k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 37k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 51m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 51mup 34% on 2022
  3. 3

    Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only compression-ignition...HS 870210

    Comes fromChina 65%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTractors: single axle (exports USD 345k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 45k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 59m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); China supplies 65 per cent (2).

    USD 59mup 63% on 2022
  4. 4

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium nitrate, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310230

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 35%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 244k; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 115m
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 59m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3).

    USD 59mfrom USD 1m in 2022
  5. 5

    Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: n.e.c. in item no. 8429.50HS 842959

    Comes fromSouth Africa 65%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery: injection-moulding machines, for working rubber or... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 58m
    Countries that export it well29

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 65 per cent (2).

    USD 49mup 14% on 2022
  6. 6

    Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390

    Comes fromSouth Africa 98%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthYeasts: active (exports USD 839k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 467k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 32m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 32mup 32% on 2022
  7. 7

    Explosives, prepared: other than propellent powdersHS 360200

    Comes fromSouth Africa 86%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 27m, top 35 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); South Africa supplies 86 per cent (2).

    USD 27mup 19% on 2022
  8. 8

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromSouth Africa 78%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerro-alloys: ferro-chromium, containing by weight more than 4% of... (exports USD 384m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 27m, top 36 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); South Africa supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 27mdown 2% on 2022
  9. 9

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: containing the three fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumHS 310520

    Comes fromZambia 99%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMargarine: excluding liquid margarine
    Exports of this lineUSD 165k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 94m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 43 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); Zambia supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 24mfrom USD 511k in 2022
  10. 10

    Food preparations: pasta, uncooked (excluding that containing eggs), not stuffed or otherwise preparedHS 190219

    Comes fromEgypt 73%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: obtained from unroasted cereal flakes or from... (exports USD 8m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 16m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 46 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Egypt supplies 73 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 99% on 2022
  11. 11

    Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses...HS 300490

    Comes fromIndia 43%, 43 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMedicaments: containing antibiotics other than penicillins... (exports USD 464k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 18m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 95m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); India supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 95mup 12% on 2022
  12. 12

    Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industriesHS 330210

    Comes fromEswatini 54%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthOils, essential: n.e.c. in heading no. 3301 (terpeneless or not)... (exports USD 869k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 51m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); Eswatini supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 51mup 50% on 2022
  13. 13

    Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of...HS 230400

    Comes fromSouth Africa 53%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFlours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 12k
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 43m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 53 per cent (1).

    USD 43mdown 15% on 2022
  14. 14

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromSouth Africa 95%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFlours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 72k
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 30m, top 26 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 30mup 16% on 2022
  15. 15

    Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoaHS 170490

    Comes fromSouth Africa 91%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading... (exports USD 39m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 782k
    Countries that export it well37

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 25m, top 39 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 91 per cent (2).

    USD 25mup 51% on 2022
  16. 16

    Quicklime: excluding calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading no. 2825HS 252210

    Comes fromZambia 90%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMineral substances: n.e.c. in chapter 25 (exports USD 831m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 201k
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 25m, top 41 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); Zambia supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 25mup 280% on 2022
  17. 17

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 56%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading... (exports USD 39m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 24m, top 42 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); United Arab Emirates supplies 56 per cent (1).

    USD 24mup 326% on 2022
  18. 18

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromSouth Africa 97%, 16 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSoap: in forms n.e.c. in item no. 3401.11 (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 50m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 47 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 214% on 2022
  19. 19

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromSouth Africa 31%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron (excluding cast) or steel: table, kitchen and other household... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 221k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 55m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1).

    USD 55mup 9% on 2022
  20. 20

    Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94HS 390110

    Comes fromSouth Africa 80%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: tubes, pipes and hoses thereof, rigid, of polymers of... (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 27m
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 28 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Zimbabwe's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); South Africa supplies 80 per cent (2).

    USD 29mup 25% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Zimbabwe already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Tobacco, (not stemmed or stripped) imports USD 31m, exports USD 10m, top source Zambia 48%
  • Machinery: for preparing or making up tobacco, n.e.c. in this chapter imports USD 20m, exports USD 599k, top source Italy 73%
  • Helicopters, except unmanned: of an unladen weight exceeding 2000kg imports USD 14m, exports USD 2m, top source United Arab Emirates 83%
  • Salt (including table salt and denatured salt): pure sodium chloride whether... imports USD 15m, exports USD 3m, top source Botswana 68%
  • Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or... imports USD 16m, exports USD 11m, top source South Africa 91%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 140 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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