Market research

Maize flour and cereals market in Zambia

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for maize flour and cereals in Zambia declined from 1 949 thousand tons in 2018 to 1 630 thousand tons in 2020, reflecting a contraction in domestic production over the same period.

A partial recovery followed, with the market growing to 1 864 thousand tons by 2023. Production, however, faced a setback in 2023 when a severe drought during the 2023/2024 farming season led to a low maize output, contributing to a supply deficit. Concurrently, government reforms to the Farmer Input Support Programme migrated districts to an E-voucher system, aiming to provide farmers with more flexible input choices to bolster production resilience.

Looking ahead to 2024, projections indicated a strong rebound in maize production, with expected output surpassing 3.6 million tons, signaling a recovery from the previous drought and a return to surplus market conditions.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Zambia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Zambia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Zambia in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production maize flour and cereals in Zambia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Zambia ranked as the 19th largest producer of maize flour and cereals from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Maize flour and cereals production in Zambia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Zambia produced 1 681 thousand tonnes of maize flour and cereals, reflecting a 3.7% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 13.8%, which equates to an annualized decline of 4.8%. The largest drop occurred in 2019, with a 10.5% decrease, while 2018 saw minimal change with a 0.0% increase.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	(10.5%)	(3.7%)	(4.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize flour and cereals from Zambia

Exports in kind, t

The export market showed an unstable trend during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 1 343 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 51 770 tonnes, representing a 39-fold difference. In 2020, maize flour and cereals deliveries from Zambia surged by 651.3% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a 95.6% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(95.6%)	413.1%	651.3%	19.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, exports of maize flour and cereals from Zambia were almost entirely concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which accounted for 97.1% of the total.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. The value of exports reached its lowest point in 2018 at 678 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 17 855 thousand US dollars, showing a 26-fold difference. In 2020, foreign maize flour and cereals supplies from Zambia increased by 549.5% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 94.0% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(94.0%)	305.6%	549.5%	16.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, exports in value terms remained heavily focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which represented 94.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize flour and cereals to Zambia

Imports in kind, t

Zambia's maize flour and cereals imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 615 tonnes, marking a sharp uptick of 175.5% over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 539.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 85.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.5%	92.7%	175.5%	85.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, maize flour and cereals imports to Zambia were largely oriented towards South Africa, which held a 91.2% share of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Maize flour and cereals imports to Zambia increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 525 thousand US dollars, showing an abrupt improvement of 336.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 753%, equating to an annualized rate of 104.3%.

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