HARARE — Zimbabwe’s import structure in 2025 revealed a clear pattern: energy products, staple foods and agricultural inputs continued to absorb the bulk of foreign currency, underscoring both economic vulnerabilities and industrial opportunities.
According to the Buy Zimbabwe 2025 Import and Export Trade Analysis Report, the Top 10 Imports from January to December 2025 were heavily concentrated in a handful of strategic commodities — most notably fuel.
Diesel alone accounted for the largest share of imports, representing more than 11 percent of the total import bill. Unleaded petrol followed at just over 5 percent. Together, the two fuels exceeded $1.7 billion, making energy dependence the single largest drain on Zimbabwe’s foreign currency reserves during the year.
Additional energy-related imports included liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electrical energy, further reinforcing the country’s reliance on external power sources.
Food and agricultural inputs formed the second major import cluster. Maize — excluding seed — remained a significant import despite domestic production efforts, while crude soya bean oil and other soya products also featured prominently. Wheat imports, particularly durum wheat, reflected continued pressure on domestic milling and food supply chains.
Fertilizer inputs — including monoammonium phosphate (MAP), ammonium nitrate and urea — completed the top import list. While individually smaller in share, collectively they represented a critical category essential for sustaining agricultural output, particularly tobacco and grain production.
The report characterized the import profile as structurally concentrated. Diesel and petrol alone accounted for nearly 17 percent of all imports, exposing the economy to global fuel price volatility. Meanwhile, staple food imports highlighted ongoing gaps in domestic agricultural output, especially during periods of climatic stress.
Industrial machinery, including self-propelled bulldozers and excavators, also appeared among the top imports, signaling ongoing infrastructure and mining expansion — but also reliance on foreign capital equipment.
The 2025 import data illustrated a dual narrative. On one hand, rising fuel and food imports reflected structural weaknesses in energy generation and agricultural self-sufficiency. On the other, machinery imports suggested continued investment in productive sectors that could, over time, reduce dependency.
Ultimately, the top 10 import categories told a story not simply of consumption, but of systemic dependency. Energy, food security and agricultural inputs remained at the core of Zimbabwe’s foreign currency outflows.
As the report concluded, reducing vulnerability in these areas — through renewable energy expansion, domestic grain production and local fertilizer manufacturing — would be central to building long-term trade resilience.
