Research firm producing economic forecasts and analysis on Namibian credit, banking, manufacturing, and financial inclusion trends.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
Simonis Storm has lowered its outlook for private sector credit extension, warning weaker corporate borrowing could keep headline credit growth below previous forecast through end of 2026
“Staff Writer Simonis Storm has lowered its outlook for private sector credit extension (PSCE), warning that weaker corporate borrowing could keep headline credit growth below its previous forecast through the end of 2026.”
Simonis Storm turns cautious on credit growthWindhoek Observer
Simonis Storm now expects headline PSCE growth to remain in a range of 3.5% to 4.5% through fourth quarter, compared with previous forecast of 4.0% to 5.0%
“The research firm now expects headline PSCE growth to remain in a range of 3.5% to 4.5% through the fourth quarter, compared with its previous forecast of 4.0% to 5.0%.”
Simonis Storm turns cautious on credit growthThe Namibian
Simonis Storm warns forcing workers with adequate pension arrangements into national fund could undermine existing retirement savings industry
“Simonis Storm has warned that forcing workers who already have adequate pension arrangements into a national pension fund could undermine Namibia's existing retirement savings industry.”
New pension plan to stretch pocketsWindhoek Observer
Simonis Storm said it believes balance of economic indicators supports Bank of Namibia keeping interest rates unchanged
“Simonis Storm has said it believes the balance of economic indicators supports the Bank of Namibia keeping interest rates unchanged at its next Monetary Policy Committee meeting.”
BoN expected to keep interest rates unchangedWindhoek Observer
Simonis Storm analysed findings from the 2025 Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey
“The financial services firm, analysing findings from the 2025 Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey, said policymakers should look beyond headline inclusion figures and focus on whether financial products are improving household stability, wealth creation and economic participation.”
Financial inclusion gains mask deeper household vulnerabilitiesWindhoek Observer
Simonis Storm said progress is real, but absolute increase overstates rate-driven gains
“"Progress is real, but the absolute increase overstates rate-driven gains," Simonis Storm said, adding that the next phase of financial inclusion should focus on the quality and impact of financial access rather than ownership of financial products.”
Financial inclusion gains mask deeper household vulnerabilitiesWindhoek Observer
Simonis Storm conducted macroeconomic analysis indicating Namibia's housing challenge increasingly concentrated in urban areas, particularly Windhoek
“According to macroeconomic analysis by Simonis Storm, Namibia's housing challenge is increasingly concentrated in urban areas, particularly Windhoek, where population growth and migration are placing significant strain on existing infrastructure and housing availability.”
Housing backlog climbs to 300 000 units as urban pressure intensifiesNew Era
Simonis Storm warn Namibia remains nowhere near solving housing crisis
“While Namibia's building sector showed encouraging signs of recovery during the first half of 2026, economists at financial firm Simonis Storm warn that Namibia remains nowhere near solving what has become one of its biggest long-term economic and social challenges.”
11 000 shacks yearly deepen housing crisis … thousands move to towns for greener pasturesNew Era
Simonis Storm stated housing gap is not closing
“"The gap is not closing," Simonis Storm stated in its latest Macro Insights report.”
11 000 shacks yearly deepen housing crisis … thousands move to towns for greener pasturesWindhoek Observer
Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm provided analysis that year-to-date Swakopmund is outpacing Windhoek in volume and value growth
“Jansen said year-to-date, Swakopmund is materially outpacing Windhoek in volume growth (+24.1% vs +7.3%) and value growth (+27.2%), reflecting the structural divergence between coastal demand underpinned by lifestyle migration, foreign buyer interest, and tourism-linked investment and Windhoek's more incremental recovery.”
Building sector improves in the first half of 2026Research firm Simonis Storm has downgraded its outlook for private sector credit extension growth through the end of 2026 to 3.5–4.5%, down from its previous 4.0–5.0% forecast, citing weaker corporate borrowing. July data showed headline PSCE growth slowed to 4.2% year-on-year, with business credit contracting to 3.7% while household borrowing strengthened.
2 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Research firm Simonis Storm has downgraded its outlook for private sector credit extension growth through the end of 2026 to 3.5–4.5%, down from its previous 4.0–5.0% forecast, citing weaker corporate borrowing. July data showed headline PSCE growth slowed to 4.2% year-on-year, with business credit contracting to 3.7% while household borrowing strengthened.
2 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Businesses and workers face potential financial pressure over compulsory contributions under a planned national pension fund. Employers warn that the contributions could squeeze struggling small businesses and reduce take-home pay for low-income employees, with concerns that adding another statutory obligation could discourage hiring.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Simonis Storm expects the Bank of Namibia to keep interest rates unchanged at its next Monetary Policy Committee meeting, citing improving currency conditions and narrowing contraction in net foreign assets as providing room to pause, though persistent inflation limits near-term rate cuts.
4 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has expanded access to financial services, with 86.0% of adults aged 15 and older now using at least one formal or informal financial product compared with 78.0% in 2017, but the gains have not translated into stronger household resilience or productive economic activity. According to Simonis Storm's analysis of the 2025 Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey, formal saving among adults fell from 60.0% in 2017 to 53.2% in 2025, prompting calls to focus on the quality and impact of financial access rather than product ownership.
28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibians report that expenses are rising faster than wages, forcing many to rely on side hustles and cash loans to survive. The squeeze is intensifying as electricity and municipal tariffs increase while workers' salaries remain stagnant.
27 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's housing shortage has grown to approximately 300,000 units from about 80,000 in 2007, with rapid urbanisation and rising construction costs straining supply. Windhoek's population expands at 3.1% annually while informal settlements grow at 6.1%, with approximately 11,000 new informal dwellings added yearly against formal housing demand of 15,000 units annually.
22 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The fifth tournament of the Arysteq Asset Management & Simonis Storm Schools Tournament Series drew 86 players (47 boys, 39 girls) from schools across the region, marking growth in Namibian youth table tennis and the debut of Hage Geingob School in the series. Notable performances included first-time gold medalists Sakaria Imbondi and Sabina Shanika, while boys' divisions produced five different champions for the first time.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The fifth Arysteq Asset Management & Simonis Storm Schools Tournament Series saw 86 players (47 boys and 39 girls) participate, with the tournament director noting increased competitiveness and emerging talent from schools across the region, including debut entries from Hage Geingob School and Origo Primary School from Rehoboth.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Around 11,000 new shacks are erected annually across Namibia, reflecting an expanding housing crisis driven by urban migration that outpaces formal housing delivery. The estimated housing deficit has grown to approximately 300,000 homes, nearly four times higher than the 80,000-unit backlog recorded in 2007.
17 July 2026 · New Era →
Around 11,000 new shacks are erected across Namibia annually, reflecting an urban migration and housing deficit deepening faster than formal housing delivery can address. Economists estimate Namibia's housing deficit has ballooned to around 300,000 homes, nearly four times higher than the 80,000-unit backlog recorded in 2007.
17 July 2026 · New Era →
Road users in Windhoek report spending hours on the road during peak periods, with journey times significantly longer than before. An Elisenheim resident cited a morning trip that now takes 45 minutes to over an hour, compared to 30 minutes previously, and identified a bottleneck near the B1 and Namibia Breweries turnoff where traffic lights have not been functioning.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's building sector improved in the first half of 2026, with June delivering broad-based gains in approval volumes and values despite elevated borrowing costs and household affordability constraints. In Windhoek, June approvals rose 24.7% year-on-year to 197 plans, with the value of approved plans surging 50.7% year-on-year to N$197.8 million.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Vehicle sales fell to 1,171 units in May from 1,320 in April, a 11.3% decline, though the May figure was 14.8% higher year-on-year and the strongest May print since 2016. Year-to-date sales for the first five months of 2026 reached 6,326 units, more than 22% ahead of the same period in 2025.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and resulting rise in global oil prices are expected to push inflation higher in Namibia and South Africa over coming months, though analysts say the impact will be temporary and unlikely to trigger a prolonged inflation cycle. Namibia's inflation rose from 2.1% in March to 3.1% in April as fuel prices increased, and is expected to climb further.
12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Simonis Storm analysis shows Namibia could unlock approximately N$14.5 billion in new manufacturing and value-addition activities, citing a trade deficit of N$4.4 billion and identifying 353 products across 23 sectors that the country could potentially manufacture using existing capabilities.
11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian government's debt to local banks climbed to N$52.4 billion in April after a N$20.4 billion increase over the past year, with borrowing from the banking sector surging 63.6% and raising concerns about future inflationary pressures, according to economist Almandro Jansen.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's banking sector continues to draw investors, though earnings quality differences among listed banks are now structural rather than cyclical, according to Simonis Storm's Banking Report 2026. FirstRand Namibia is identified as the preferred banking stock, while Standard Bank Namibia received an accumulate rating and Capricorn Group a reduce rating pending improvements in key indicators.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Headline inflation jumped to 3.1% in April from 2.1% in March, primarily driven by transport costs reflecting currency depreciation and higher global fuel prices. With the repo rate held at 6.50%, real interest rates have fallen, supporting credit demand but eroding household purchasing power.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's debt position remains manageable and the country has not lost access to financial markets, according to Simonis Storm, but pressure on government finances is increasing as borrowing requirements rise. Domestic debt has reached N$154.4 billion, interest now absorbs approximately 18% of revenue, and the country has become increasingly dependent on the domestic market to absorb government borrowing.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's inflation fell to a four-year low of 2.4% in February, but economists warn geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have raised global oil prices, potentially pushing inflation back toward 3.5–4.5% by mid-2026 since Namibia imports all its fuel and most of its food.
16 March 2026 · New Era →
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's FY2026/27 budget allocates N$81.3 billion to operational spending but cuts capital expenditure to N$8.47 billion, prompting analysts to warn that low investment in infrastructure risks slower economic growth while debt servicing consumes 18% of projected revenue.
3 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia is offering higher interest rates on short-term treasury bills than South Africa, making it more attractive for investors, according to a Simonis Storm report. Last week the Bank of Namibia borrowed N$1.51 billion through treasury bills with oversubscription at strong levels, reflecting improving liquidity conditions.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Private sector credit extension grew 4.4% year-on-year in December 2025, down slightly from November but well above 2024 levels, driven by cautious borrowing rather than banking stress. Households account for 57% of total credit, while businesses are selectively investing in asset-backed financing and managing balance sheets more carefully.
5 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's vehicle market posted 14,498 sales in 2025, its strongest year since 2015, driven by fleet investment and moderating credit conditions, but faces structural disruption from rising Chinese manufacturers reshaping regional supply chains and competitive dynamics. Cooling sales momentum at year-end should not signal reversal, as underlying fundamentals remain constructive with anticipated further monetary easing and corporate fleet demand expected to anchor volumes through 2026.
27 January 2026 · New Era →
The US House of Representatives passed legislation extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) through 2028, preserving duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries including Namibia. The previous framework expired on 30 September 2025; if enacted, the extension would benefit Namibian exports of agricultural products, beef, and manufactured goods that face stricter competition without preferential access.
16 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's headline inflation fell to 3.2% in December 2025 and averaged 3.5% for the year, remaining within the central bank's target range. According to financial services firm Simonis Storm, inflation is expected to tick slightly higher in 2026, averaging 3.6%–3.8%, driven mainly by structural and service-related factors rather than broad-based demand, with housing and utilities remaining the primary pressure points.
13 January 2026 · New Era →
Financial advisory firm Simonis Storm predicts a 25 basis point rate cut in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on inflation remaining contained and financial stability being maintained. The forecast comes as inflation slowed to 3.4% year on year in November, within the Bank of Namibia's target range.
9 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Private Sector Credit Extension eased to 4.5% year-on-year in November 2025, down from 4.7% in October, as both corporate and household borrowing softened. According to financial services firm Simonis Storm, credit growth remains well above 2023–2024 levels and is expected to stabilise around 4.5–5.0% into early 2026, with corporate credit continuing to drive growth through investment in productive assets.
8 January 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's household credit growth slowed to 2.5% year-on-year in November 2025, with weak mortgage demand and continued borrowing caution driven by high living costs and modest wage growth. Households are shifting towards essential and asset-backed borrowing, particularly vehicle financing, while mortgage lending stagnated at 0% growth due to affordability constraints and limited affordable housing stock.
7 January 2026 · The Namibian →