Eswatini exports rise 14.1% to 4.2 billion
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
Eswatini’s exports rose by 14.1% in September 2026 to 4.2 billion emalangeni, driven notably by sugar and drink concentrates. The trade surplus reached 687.9 million emalangeni, compared with 372 million in August, according to the Central Bank of Eswatini’s report on recent economic developments.
Eswatini’s exports increased by 14.1% in September 2026 to 4.2 billion emalangeni, bringing the trade surplus to 687.9 million. The faster growth than imports was supported by revenue from sugar and non-alcoholic drink concentrates, according to the Central Bank of Eswatini’s October report on recent economic developments.
The trade surplus stood at 372 million emalangeni in August. Exports of sugar and sugar products rose by 24% month on month to 1 billion emalangeni, and by 43.4% year on year, with an increase in volumes shipped to most African markets. Non-alcoholic drink concentrates remained the country’s leading export product.
Four categories — drink concentrates, sugar and sugar products, textiles and clothing, and wood and wooden articles — accounted for 84% of September’s exports. Sugar production increased by 53.5% in the second quarter of 2026, contributing to annual growth of 27% in the agro-processing industry, compared with 11.6% in the first quarter, the central bank said.
