Dried shelled legumes market in Mozambique

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market for dried shelled legumes in Mozambique showed mixed dynamics. The launch of the Strategic Plan for Agrarian Sector Development 2030 (PEDSA II) in 2018 aimed to accelerate agrarian transformation and support smallholders. However, persistent climate vulnerabilities, including droughts and floods, constrained production growth. The situation began to turn with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's 2020 decision to manage cereal and legume silos through public-private partnerships, which improved storage and commercialization capacity.

The period from 2021 to 2023 marked a sustained expansion. Production jumped from 1.37 million tonnes in 2020 to 1.95 million tonnes in 2023, driven by the ongoing implementation of PEDSA II, better information flow to rural producers, and the gradual transformation toward commercial legume farming. Although institutional instability in 2022 posed challenges to the agrarian sector, production still increased. Extreme weather events in 2023, including cyclones and droughts, moderated the pace, but market volume continued to rise, reaching 1.58 million tonnes by the end of the period.

Production dried shelled legumes in Mozambique

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Mozambique ranked 24th globally in the production of dried shelled legumes.

Top producers of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

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

Following two consecutive years of growth, Mozambique's production of dried shelled legumes experienced a decline. In 2020, the country produced 1 370.0 thousand tonnes, marking a 2.9% decrease from the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production increased by 6.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1 410.8 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 7.2%.

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

Exports dried shelled legumes from Mozambique

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes of dried shelled legumes from Mozambique showed significant volatility during this period. The lowest point was recorded in 2017, while exports peaked in 2019, representing a 7.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports amounted to 167.4 thousand tonnes, a 22.1% decrease from the previous year. The maximum export volume was achieved in 2019 at 215.0 thousand tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 394.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India served as the primary market for Mozambique's dried shelled legumes exports, accounting for 84.6% of total export volume. Other destinations collectively represented a much smaller share.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values demonstrated considerable instability throughout the period. The lowest value was recorded in 2018, while exports peaked in 2019, showing a 6.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Mozambique exported dried shelled legumes worth 57 639 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp decline of 29.9% from the previous year. The minimum export value was 12 541 thousand US dollars in 2018, while the maximum reached 82 185 thousand US dollars in 2019. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019 at 555.3%.

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

During 2017-2020, India remained the dominant destination for Mozambique's dried shelled legumes exports in value terms, accounting for 77.6% of total export revenue. Other markets contributed significantly less to export earnings.

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

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

Imports dried shelled legumes to Mozambique

Imports in kind, K t

Mozambique's imports of dried shelled legumes totaled 1.0 thousand tonnes in 2020, representing a 65.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 51.6%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 21.5%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 2.9 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 64.3%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania were the main suppliers of dried shelled legumes to Mozambique, accounting for 37.3%, 22.3%, and 7.8% of import volume respectively. Together, these three countries represented 67.3% of Mozambique's total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values showed notable fluctuations during this timeframe. The lowest value was recorded in 2018, while imports peaked in 2019, with a 2.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Mozambique imported dried shelled legumes worth 1 495 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 38.6% decrease from 2019. The minimum import value was 878 thousand US dollars in 2018, while the maximum reached 2 435 thousand US dollars in 2019. The largest annual decline occurred in 2018 at 52.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 177.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—South Africa, Malawi, and Zimbabwe—collectively accounted for 70.0% of the total value of dried shelled legumes imported by Mozambique.

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

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