Sorghum market in Malawi

Earlier Report Observations

The sorghum market in Malawi expanded strongly from 2018 to 2020, with volume rising from 82.4 thousand tons to 141.2 thousand tons. This growth phase was driven by a sharp increase in production, which more than doubled over the period.

After peaking in 2020, the market contracted to 117.9 thousand tons in 2021, then stabilized around 116.2 thousand tons in 2022. During 2022, the Malawi Stock Exchange held a Business Journalist Seminar to improve market reporting transparency, reflecting broader institutional engagement with agricultural markets.

Market volume recovered to 126.3 thousand tons in 2023. In 2024, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) announced the start of the 2024/2025 buying season, underscoring the role of state entities in crop procurement.

Production sorghum in Malawi

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sorghum, 2017-2020

World map of production of sorghum, 2017-2020

Sorghum production in Malawi has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Malawi produced 141.3 K t of sorghum, marking a modest year-over-year increase of 6.1%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 56.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 82.9 K t. That same year saw the largest decline of 8.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a jump of 60.8%.

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

Exports sorghum from Malawi

Exports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2018, with the peak being 7.8 times higher than the low. In 2020, sorghum exports from Malawi totaled 65.0 t, representing a significant 14.4% increase compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 56.8 t, while the maximum occurred in 2018 at 442.0 t. The largest decline took place in 2019 with a drop of 87.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Zambia, South Africa, and Tanzania formed the core group of markets for Malawi's sorghum exports in kind. Zambia accounted for 39.5% of exports, South Africa for 33.8%, and Tanzania for 8.6%. Together, these three countries represented 81.9% of total export flows.

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

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout this timeframe. Export values bottomed in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with the peak being 41 times higher than the low. In 2020, Malawi's sorghum export value was recorded at 20.3 K $ US, indicating a sharp year-over-year increase of 459.4%. The minimum value occurred in 2019 at 3.6 K $ US, and the largest decline that year was 97.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading destinations for Malawi's sorghum exports in value terms were South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania. South Africa accounted for 34.4% of export value, Zambia for 27.1%, and Tanzania for 13.8%. Collectively, these three markets represented 75.3% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports sorghum to Malawi

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Import volumes dropped to their minimum in 2018 and climbed to their maximum in 2017, with a 40-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Malawi's sorghum import volume amounted to 2.9 t, reflecting a sharp decline of 97.5% compared to the previous year.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Tanzania remained the dominant and nearly exclusive source for Malawi's sorghum imports in kind, accounting for 95.1% of total imports.

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

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Import values varied from a low in 2017 to a high in 2018, with the high being 3.5 times greater than the low. In 2020, Malawi imported a total of 0.5 K $ US worth of sorghum, equivalent to a dramatic 246.6% increase from the year before.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, two countries—South Africa and Kenya—concentrated most of Malawi's sorghum imports in value terms, while other markets were individually less significant.

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

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