Mozambique’s rice imports surge 90.8% in the first quarter – Notícias

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Mozambique’s rice imports surge 90.8% in the first quarter – Notícias

2:40 CAT | 13 Aug 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Notícias]

Rice imports increased by 90.8% during the first quarter of the current year. This increase occurs in a context in which the government has been implementing policies aimed at increasing the production of this cereal in the country, in order to reduce external dependence.

In the same period, there was also an increase in imports of vehicle accessories of 29.6% and of medicines and reagents of 5.1%, according to a report issued by the Bank of Mozambique.

The central bank highlights that, in general, the import bill for goods decreased by 2.5%, having settled at US$2,020.1 million, reads its balance of payments report for the first three months of this year.

The drop reflects the reduction in imports of goods by Major Projects (GP) and by other sectors, by US$22.2 million and US$29.6 million respectively.

According to the central bank and from the point of view of categories, including Major Projects, the highlight is the import of intermediate goods, which recorded a reduction of 16.6% compared to the same period of 2023.

In fact, intermediate goods cost the country US$610.5 million, which represented 30.2% of total imports.

The document to which Notícias had access states that the reduction in expenditure on the acquisition of fertilizers, electricity, fuels and raw aluminium by 78%, 28.8%, 18.9% and 11.0% respectively, contributed to this effect.

However, it is worth noting that imports of construction materials, with the exception of cement and tar and bitumen, increased.

Source: Notícias