Mozambique: Rice import reached US$63.1 million in Q1

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Mozambique: Rice import reached US$63.1 million in Q1

12:17 CAT | 07 Aug 2025

File photo: Agronegócios

According to a recent statistical report from the Bank of Mozambique, the country imported US$63.1 million dollars’ (€54.5 million) worth of rice between January and March of this year, equivalent to almost 15% of the consumer goods purchased by the country abroad in that period.

The value of rice imported follows the record US$441 million for all of 2024, itself an increase of 38.8% compared to 2023, when these imports were valued at US$317.7 million.

From January to March, Mozambique imported US$441.8 million in consumer goods, with rice accounting for almost 15% of this total, surpassed only by imports of automobiles (US$84.5 million) and cooking oil (US$79.5 million).

Mozambique’s production of major cereals declined in 2023. Corn production fell 11% that year, and rice production by 34%, according to data from the Mozambique National Statistics Institute (INE).

According to the INE report, which details the production of major cereals in Mozambique, the country produced 2,124,749 tons of corn in 2023, compared to 2,382,511 tons the previous year.

Even so, this is a higher figure than in previous years, with the exception of 2022. According to the INE, 1,836,925 tons of corn was produced in 2021, 1,632,321 tons in 2020 and 1,451,686 tons in 2019.

Tete province led corn production in 2023, with 501,080 tons, followed by Manica, both in the centre of the country, with 398,619 tons.

Mozambican rice production fell in 2023 to 161,829 tons, compared to 245,792 tons the previous year. This production was also the lowest in the last five years, according to the historical data provided by the INE.

Zambézia province, in the centre of the country, led Mozambique in rice production in 2023, with 48,537 tons, followed by Gaza, in the south, with 40,946 tons.

The INE report also highlighted declines in the production of two other key cereals in the country: sorghum, which fell 15% to 139,553 tons in 2023, and millet, which fell 32% to 17,098 tons.

Source: Lusa