Zambia
As a least-developed country (LDC), Zambia is a beneficiary of the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) arrangement. The World Bank classifies Zambia as a lower middle-income economy with a per-capita income of $1,235 in 2024. Total EU imports from Zambia amounted to €316 million in 2024, and preferential imports to €149 million.
What is the EBA?
The EBA arrangement covers all LDCs as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products originating in LDCs except for arms and ammunition. Unlike beneficiaries of the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDCs are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements or agreements with the EU.
At a glance: EU preferential imports from EBA beneficiary countries (2024, € million)
21.3M (2024)
Population
Presidential Republic
Government
4.0% (2024)
GDP Growth
15.0% (2024)
Inflation
$ 26.3B (2024)
GDP
Facts about Zambia's economy
Urbanisation
Zambia is one of the most urbanised countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Almost half of the population lives in urban areas.
Export Products
Zambia's exports are dominated by copper (both refined and unrefined), which accounted for more than two thirds of export earnings in 2024, as well as other mining products (various types of ores, sulphur, precious stones and gold), and cement. Agricultural exports include sugar, non-alcoholic beverages, and cotton.
Trade Partners
Zambia's most important trading partners in 2024 were Switzerland (28% of total trade), China (19%), and South Africa (13%). Switzerland and China are the most important markets for Zambian products, while most imports originate from South Africa and China.
Economic Structure
Zambia's copper reserves built the foundation for the country's strong economic growth, and continue to play an important role for the economy. Next to copper, the country also possesses substantial emerald reserves, as well as cobalt, gold, and silver. The agricultural sector remains small although it employs the majority of Zambia's population. The manufacturing sector mainly concentrates on import substitution activities. Services contribute 55% to the GDP, followed by industry 37% (2024).
Copper Production
Zambia is one of the largest producers of copper on the African continent. The annual production amounts to about 820,000 metric tons (2024).
Trade with the EU
Total trade with the EU amounted to €544 million in 2024. With a share of 3%, the EU ranks 9th in overall trading partners.
Zambia and the EU
Imports from Zambia by product section (2024, € million)
Imports from Zambia over time (€ million)
ZAMBIA AND THE EU GSP
Economic Impact
50%
Share of Zambia's exports to the EU that were eligible for EBA preferences in 2024.
97%
Zambia's preference utilisation rate in 2024.
99%
Share of zero-duty imports from Zambia in 2024. Most imports are duty-free under normal EU tariffs.
Preference utilisation and export diversification
EU imports from Zambia (€ million)
Preference utilisation (%) vs. total eligible imports (in € million)
Zambia’s preference utilisation rate was consistently around 90% between 2016 and 2020 and then increased to almost 100% (except for a drop in 2023 to 80%). Eligible imports, accounting for about half of overall EU imports from Zambia, have increased strongly but are volatile. The large majority of imports, including for example copper products, already benefits from zero most-favoured nation duties. At the same time, eligible imports from 2021 to 2024 were among the highest on record from Zambia.
The largest product sections under EBA (€ million, 2024)
In 2024, EU preferential imports from Zambia were led by tobacco, which accounted for 58% of total imports using the EBA. With tobacco imports increasing by 47% in the period 2022 to 2024, they overtook the previously largest product group, iron, steel and related articles - these decreased by 50% over the same period. Other product groups using the EBA are mostly different agricultural products. Preference utilisation is close to 100% for all major product groups.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As a beneficiary of the EBA, Zambia is not required to ratify any conventions to be able to benefit from preferential access to the EU market. Nonetheless, the country has ratified all 27 international conventions listed in the GSP Regulation on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. Most recently, it has ratified the Genocide Convention in 2022.
Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards
Ratified
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
- International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
- Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
- Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
- Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
- Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
- Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
- Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
- Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
- Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
- Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)
Not Ratified
- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
Additional Conventions
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
- Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
- United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
- United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
- United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
- United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)
EU-Zambia Bilateral Development Cooperation
DG INTPA
Access all info about EU-Zambia relations on the International Partnerships website.