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THE mining sector has continued to dominate the country’s exports contributing 55 percent of the total export earnings during the first quarter, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has said. The country recorded a 12 percent growth in exports to $868,7 million during the first quarter and the mining sector contributed $478,2 million of the amount.

Zimbabwe’s exports for the past 20 years have averaged around $2,2 billion per year, reaching an all-time peak of $3,8 billion in 2012.

The tobacco industry, which has been growing exponentially over a decade contributed 26,1 percent of the total exports at $226,3 million followed by the transport sector which earned $60,9 million contributing 7,1 percent to the total export figure.

The manufacturing sector raked in about $54,2 million in exports during the first quarter and agriculture and telecommunications brought in $35,3 million and $5,2 million respectively.

The RBZ indicated that South Africa was the biggest importer after accounting for about 55 percent of the country’s exports. — BH24