Trade partner
U.S. Imports
$156.4M
U.S. Exports: $7.3M
Deficit of $149.1M (net importer)
The United States imported $156.4M/month and exported $7.3M/month with Zambia as of August 2026, covering 49 product categories.
Over the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $793.2M from Zambia. In August 2026, the U.S. ran a monthly goods trade deficit of $149.1M with Zambia, importing 21.4× as much as it exported. Compared with August 2025, U.S. goods imports from Zambia in August 2026 (preliminary) were 142% higher. U.S. goods imports from Zambia of $156.4M in August 2026 ran 67% above the year-to-date monthly average of $93.6M.
Zambia, assigned USCS code 7940, is a major copper and cobalt producer whose mineral exports are strategically important to US battery, electronics, and electrical manufacturing supply chains. Copper cathodes and cobalt compounds from Zambia are classified under base-metals chapters of the HTS, and trade professionals should monitor any applicable trade-remedy measures that could affect duty treatment. Zambia also exports tobacco and cut flowers, the latter subject to USDA APHIS phytosanitary inspection at US ports of entry.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Zambia is one of Africa's leading cobalt producers alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, and cobalt is a critical material for lithium-ion battery cathodes used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics. US importers in the battery sector track Zambian mining output as part of broader critical-minerals supply-chain risk assessments.
Cut flowers imported from Zambia are subject to USDA APHIS inspection at the port of entry to screen for plant pests and diseases. Shipments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by Zambia's national plant protection organization, and importers should confirm that the specific flower species and packaging meet current APHIS entry requirements.
Full import breakdown with all product categories
Full export breakdown with monthly trends
24-month import and export trend charts
EU customs territory, FTA coverage, and tariff treatment for Zambia
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Annual data from BEA | 2024
Services Exports
$165.0M
Services Imports
$131.0M
The top U.S. imports from Zambia are Refined Copper Cathodes and Sections of Cathodes, Rubies, Sapphires & Emeralds, Cut but Not Set and US-Origin Articles Exported & Returned Without Advancement, by value in the latest month.
| Rank | Product | Import value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $155.4M | |
| 2 | $320K | |
| 3 | US-Origin Articles Exported & Returned Without AdvancementChapter 98 · SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION PROVISIONS, NESOI | $298K |
| 4 | $169K | |
| 5 | $153K | |
| 6 | $20K | |
| 7 | $19K | |
| 8 | Estimated Imports of Low-Valued TransactionsChapter 99 · SPECIAL IMPORT PROVISIONS, NESOI | $10K |
| 9 | $5K | |
| 10 | $273 |
| Rank | Product | Export value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.2M | |
| 2 | $760K | |
| 3 |
| $561K |
| 4 | Low-Value Export Shipments & Canadian Estimated Late ReceiptsChapter 98 · SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION PROVISIONS, NESOI | $390K |
| 5 | $333K |
| 6 | $319K |
| 7 | $265K |
| 8 | $257K |
| 9 | $252K |
| 10 | $250K |