Dried shelled legumes market in Malawi

Earlier Report Observations

The market for dried shelled legumes in Malawi expanded from 1 421 thousand tons in 2018 to 1 525 thousand tons in 2020. This growth was supported by government strategies to improve agricultural techniques, processing, and access to international markets, particularly for soybeans and peanuts. The creation of special economic zones to attract agribusinesses and efforts to strengthen the marketing capabilities of local companies based on regional market studies further contributed to this increase.

Market volume then experienced fluctuations, declining to 1 509 thousand tons in 2021 and further to 1 437 thousand tons in 2022. During this period, national strategies included measures to correct legume market failures and encouraged the adoption of innovative technologies for production and marketing. The fertilizer subsidy program for smallholder farmers was maintained, and local processing of agricultural products was promoted to increase added value.

In 2023, the market recovered to 1 540 thousand tons. This rebound coincided with the reinforcement of the fertilizer subsidy program for the 2023/2024 agricultural season, with planned supplies of around 150 000 tons of fertilizers from multiple local and foreign suppliers. The agricultural sector also faced challenging climatic conditions, including drought linked to the El Niño phenomenon in 2024, which impacted production.

Production dried shelled legumes in Malawi

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Malawi ranked as the 21st largest producer of dried shelled legumes between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

Following a two-year decline, Malawi's production of dried shelled legumes rebounded in 2020. The country produced 1 564.8 thousand tonnes that year, marking a 7.8% increase from 2019. Production had reached its lowest point in 2019 at 1 451.6 thousand tonnes, after experiencing its largest decline of 6.4% in 2018.

Annual dynamics of production in Malawi in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports dried shelled legumes from Malawi

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed considerable volatility throughout the period. The lowest level was recorded in 2017, while exports peaked in 2020 at 40 141 tonnes, representing a 102.9% surge from the previous year. This created a 3.2-fold difference between the two years. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 at 40.0%, whereas exports saw their largest increase of 159.7% in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, three key markets—the United Kingdom, South Africa, and India—collectively represented 64.3% of Malawi's total dried shelled legume exports by volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Malawi in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Malawi's dried shelled legume exports grew for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 39 343 thousand US dollars. This represented a modest year-on-year increase of 1.0%. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, export value expanded by 108%, translating to a compound annual growth rate of 27.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, India (20.8% of export value), the United Arab Emirates (20.6%), and South Africa (18.7%) were the leading destinations for Malawi's dried shelled legume exports in monetary terms. Together, these three markets accounted for 60.0% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Malawi in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried shelled legumes to Malawi

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes experienced significant fluctuations during this period. The highest level was recorded in 2017, while imports dropped to their lowest point in 2020 at 214 tonnes—a sharp 72.7% decrease from the previous year. This resulted in a 61-fold difference between the peak and trough. The most substantial decline occurred in 2018 at 97.4%, whereas imports saw their largest increase of 128.0% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in kind, 2017-2020, t

Throughout 2017-2020, Mozambique and the United States dominated Malawi's dried shelled legume imports by volume, jointly accounting for 88.2% of the total. Other trading partners each held significantly smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Malawi in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values exhibited notable volatility from 2017 to 2020. The peak was registered in 2017, while the lowest point occurred in 2020, creating a 75-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Malawi imported dried shelled legumes worth 214 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic 65.8% drop from the previous year. The largest decline took place in 2018 at 97.5%, while imports recorded their biggest increase of 54.3% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Mozambique and the United States were the primary sources for Malawi's dried shelled legume imports in value terms, together representing 88.4% of the total. The remaining imports were distributed among various smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2017-2020