Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

Simonis Storm

Also known as: SS

Financial advisory and research firm providing economic analysis and forecasts on Namibia's monetary policy, inflation, and credit conditions.

Business

Oil price surge threatens to reverse Namibia's disinflation trend

The News

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

Monday 16 March

  1. Oil price surge threatens to reverse Namibia's disinflation trend

    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

  2. Namibia must strengthen governance before oil revenue flows

    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

Tuesday 3 March

  1. N$104 billion budget tilts toward wages and interest over growth

    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

Friday 6 February

  1. Namibia's treasury bills offer better returns than South Africa's

    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

Thursday 5 February

  1. Namibia's credit growth eases but recovery continues steadily

    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

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Namibia's vehicle market enters 2026 at structural inflection

    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

Friday 16 January

  1. US extends African Growth and Opportunity Act through 2028

    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

Tuesday 13 January

  1. Namibian inflation eases to 3.2%, expected to rise slightly in 2026

    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

Friday 9 January

  1. Central bank expected to cut interest rates next quarter

    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

Thursday 8 January

  1. Namibia's credit growth slows to 4.5%, remains supportive

    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

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