Treenuts market in Mozambique

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, Mozambique's tree nuts market volume fell from 119 thousand tons to 64.1 thousand tons, primarily due to a surge in exports. Extreme weather events, including cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019, damaged crops and infrastructure, raising post-harvest losses to as high as 40%. Institutional instability and price fluctuations in 2020 further encouraged producers to prioritize export markets, notably to South Africa, where demand was strong.

The market recovered to 89.6 thousand tons by 2022, supported by government initiatives like the SUSTENTA program, which transferred technology and developed the production chain, integrating small farmers and adding value. However, in 2023, despite production growing to 157.5 thousand tons, a rise in exports to 83.7 thousand tons reduced domestic volume to 73.9 thousand tons. Incentives and investments in the value chain drove production growth, but increasing international demand diverted output abroad.

Throughout the period, structural challenges such as the dominance of family farmers, lack of infrastructure, and high post-harvest losses limited the expansion of domestic consumption. Urbanization increased local demand, but the sector remained vulnerable to climate change and reliant on export markets.

Production treenuts in Mozambique

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Mozambique ranked as the 19th largest producer of treenuts globally.

Top producers of treenuts, 2017-2020

World map of production of treenuts, 2017-2020

Treenuts production in Mozambique rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 143.0 K t of treenuts, showing a modest increase of 2.1% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 2.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%. The lowest production level was in 2018 at 130.0 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 6.5%. In contrast, 2019 recorded the highest increase at 7.7%.

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

Exports treenuts from Mozambique

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Exports varied 6.9-fold, with the lowest point in 2018 at 11 432 t and the peak in 2020 at 79 109 t. In 2020, Mozambique exported 79 109 t of treenuts, marking a substantial gain of 126.9% from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 60.8%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 205.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India and Vietnam were the main buyers of treenuts from Mozambique, together accounting for 91.4% of total exports in volume, with other countries making up the remainder.

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, M $ US

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Export values fluctuated 4.4-fold, with the low in 2018 at 22.8 M $ US and the high in 2019 at 100.5 M $ US. In 2020, treenuts exports from Mozambique were recorded at 85.7 M $ US, representing a sharp decline of 14.7% from the year before. The largest decline was in 2018 at 57.7%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 340.5%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Vietnam (28.5% of exports by value), India (27.5%), and the United States (10.4%) were the top contributors to export value, jointly accounting for 66.4% of total flows.

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

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

Imports treenuts to Mozambique

Imports in kind, t

Imported treenuts volumes in Mozambique fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 218 t, reflecting a strong decrease of 12.6% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports dropped by 40%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.7%. The highest import level was in 2018 at 413 t, which also saw the largest increase of 13.7%. The largest decline was in 2019 at 39.6%.

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

During 2017-2020, South Africa (with 65.8% of total flows) and Indonesia (17.5%) together comprised 83.3% of total imports in volume, while other partners accounted for the rest.

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, M $ US

Mozambique imported approximately 0.7 M $ US of treenuts in 2020, which is a 54.5% increase year-over-year. The minimum value was in 2019 at 0.4 M $ US, and the maximum was in 2018 at 0.8 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 44.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Indonesia dominated imports in value terms, together accounting for 82.7% of total flows, with other destinations having smaller individual shares.

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

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