Botswana’s trade figures are flashing a warning. The country’s export earnings fell by P10.1 billion in a year, leaving it with a trade deficit of P17.6 billion. New data from Statistics Botswana shows that exports dropped from P46 billion in the first seven months of 2025 to P35.9 billion during the same period this year. The decline is raising fresh questions about the resilience of Botswana’s economic model, which remains heavily dependent on exports of...

BBS Bank Limited, the Botswana Stock Exchange-listed commercial bank, has slipped further into the red, with its loss widening from P17 million in the six months ended June 2025 to P71.5 million during the same period this year. Management said the lo ss was partly driven by investment costs incurred to position the bank for future growth. Review of Recent Financial Performance The bank said its loss widened partly because of continued investment aimed at...

Inflation in Botswana is expected to remain high over the coming six months before easing significantly by the second quarter of 2027, according to updated forecasts from the Bank of Botswana. The central bank’s August 2026 Monetary Policy report projects that inflation will stay above the upper limit of its 3 to 6 percent target range through the final quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. It is then anticipated to return to...

Preliminary figures released last week by the Bank of Botswana reveal that the Finance Ministry reported a budget deficit of P16.34 billion for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. This marks a significant improvement from the previously projected deficit of P25.48 billion.

Botswana’s trade balance took a sharp downturn in the first half of 2026, as newly released data shows the country’s trade deficit ballooned to P15.54 billion. This marks a staggering 63.6 percent increase – up by P9.9 billion – compared to a P5.66 billion deficit recorded during the same period last year.

Businesses in Botswana are expressing cautious optimism about the trading environment through June 2027, buoyed by government initiatives aimed at economic recovery and business transformation, according to a recent survey from the Bank of Botswana. While the operating landscape remains challenging, companies anticipate more favorable conditions from the fourth quarter of 2026 into the first half of 2027. The quarterly Business Expectations Survey (BES) gathered insights from local businesses about current economic realities and future...

Botswana’s commercial banks recorded a P2 billion decline in household lending in May 2026, reflecting the ongoing pressure of elevated borrowing costs. According to the latest Botswana Economic and Financial Statistics report from Bank Botswana, total annual bank lending fell by 0.2 percent in May, a sharp contrast to the 2.5 percent growth seen in January. The household sector was the primary driver of this downturn. Lending to households dropped 3.6 percent to P55 billion...

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Botswana’s mining sector surged to P47.8 billion in 2024, marking a P15 billion increase from the previous year, according to an update from the Bank of Botswana. The mining sector dominated FDI inflows, accounting for 48.8 percent of the country’s total investment, up from 37.5 percent in 2023, highlighting its growing appeal to investors. The wholesale and retail trade sector ranked as the second-largest recipient, drawing P25.8 billion in FDI....