Market research

Molasses market in Malawi

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The molasses market in Malawi expanded from 110 489 t in 2018 to a peak of 119 567 t in 2020. This growth was supported by the ongoing production activities of the major state-owned company Illovo Sugar Malawi PLC, a key player in the sugar and molasses sector, which contributed to increased output.

Following the peak, the market volume contracted sharply to 88 425 t in 2022, a decline of 22.6% from the previous year. This downturn coincided with the enforcement of product standardization and labeling requirements by the Malawi Bureau of Standards, which likely restricted imports and affected overall supply, as imports plummeted from 23 442 t in 2020 to just 389 t in 2022.

Market volume saw a further modest decrease to 85 335 t in 2023. By 2024, imports rebounded to 12 217 t, reflecting changing market conditions. During this period, the government implemented policy actions to reduce sugar prices and increase availability by opening the market to more traders, while Salima Sugar Company resumed its production and distribution. Additionally, new legislation such as the Investment and Export Promotion Act 2024 and the Special Economic Zones Act 2024 were enacted to facilitate investment and trade in agro-processing industries including molasses.

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 Malawi
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Malawi in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Malawi 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, 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, 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malawi in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, 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 molasses in Malawi

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of molasses, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of molasses, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Molasses production in Malawi has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Malawi produced 96 126 tonnes of molasses, which represents a 7.1% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 12.5%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 4.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.2%	0.8%	7.1%	4.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports molasses from Malawi

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. From 2017 to 2020, the peak-to-trough amplitude reached 825 times. In 2019, molasses exports from Malawi saw their largest increase at 0.0%. However, in 2020, exports plummeted to 0.0 tonnes, marking a dramatic 99.8% decline compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(42.3%)	-	(99.8%)	(89.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Malawi's molasses exports in kind were highly concentrated, with Tanzania and the United Kingdom together accounting for 99.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Molasses exports from Malawi have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were recorded at 0.0 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 93.0% contraction over the past year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 99.9%, which corresponds to an average annual decline of 90.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(98.6%)	(2.4%)	(93.0%)	(90.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the primary and nearly exclusive market for Malawi's molasses exports in value terms, representing 97.3% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports molasses to Malawi

Imports in kind, t

Malawi's molasses import volume has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 23 442 tonnes, showing a modest 6.7% gain relative to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports surged by 278%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 55.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	246.0%	2.4%	6.7%	55.8%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Mozambique and Zambia dominated the list of suppliers of molasses to Malawi, jointly accounting for 100.0% 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 Malawi in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Cross-border shipments of molasses to Malawi have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports registered 2 763 thousand US dollars, reflecting a slight 0.8% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, imports grew by 167.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 38.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	155.1%	3.9%	0.8%	38.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Mozambique and Zambia continued to be the main suppliers of molasses to Malawi, with their combined share amounting to 100.0% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io