Windhoek: The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has reported a significant increase of 747 per cent in customs clearance efficiency following a recent system upgrade. This remarkable surge was observed in the two weeks succeeding the upgrade, with import entries escalating from 4,974 to 42,131, as announced by NamRA Commissioner Sam Shivute.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Shivute elaborated during a press conference that the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) went live on May 5, 2026, after being upgraded from a version that was 11 iterations outdated. ASYCUDA is responsible for managing all goods imported and exported through Namibia. Shivute highlighted the system's go-live as a significant milestone in the country's digital transformation for the year.

Between May 5 and May 17, 2026, the system processed 42,131 import entries with a free-on-board (FOB) value of N.dollars 18.5 billion. This marks a substantial rise compared to the 4,974 import entries with an FOB value of N.dollars 10.1 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. Similarly, export entries witnessed a sharp increase from 4,812 entries with an FOB value of N.dollars 11 billion in 2025 to 42,118 entries with an FOB value of N.dollars 10.9 billion in 2026.

Shivute emphasized the necessity of the upgrade, stating that continuing with such an outdated system in 2026 posed risks of inefficiencies and revenue leakages. He pointed out that the new system addresses these risks by introducing mandatory tax identification number (TIN) requirements for clearing agents and traders, thus closing a gap that previously existed.

The upgraded system also automates the allocation of customs officials to submissions, eliminating the previous option for clearing agents to select specific officials. This change is part of a broader initiative to reduce human intervention in customs processes and advance toward fully digital operations.

To support the stabilisation of the upgraded system, experts from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the developers of the ASYCUDA framework, remain present to provide assistance.