Market research

Wheat and meslin market in Zambia

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The wheat and meslin market in Zambia experienced substantial growth between 2018 and 2023, with its volume more than doubling from 144.9 thousand tons to 336.9 thousand tons. The most rapid expansion occurred in 2019 and 2020, followed by a period of moderated growth in the subsequent two years. The market regained momentum in 2023, recording its highest annual increase since 2020.

This expansion was supported by a consistent rise in domestic production, which increased by over 140% across the period. Import volumes played a complementary role, though with greater volatility; after a sharp rise in 2020, imports declined in 2022 before rebounding strongly in 2023.

By 2023, the market had reached 336.9 thousand tons, representing an overall growth of 132% compared to the 2018 level. The combined effect of rising local output and variable import flows defined the market's development throughout these years.

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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zambia 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 Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Zambia 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 Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Zambia 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zambia 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 Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Zambia 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Zambia in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Zambia by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Zambia in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Zambia 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 Zambia, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from 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 wheat and meslin in Zambia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Zambia's wheat and meslin production has increased for the second year in a row. In 2019, production rose by 32.7%, marking the largest annual increase during the period. However, in 2018, production fell sharply by 40.9%, reaching its lowest point at 114.5 thousand tonnes. By 2020, production rebounded significantly to 191.6 thousand tonnes, representing a 26.2% increase compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(40.9%)	32.7%	26.2%	(0.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wheat and meslin from Zambia

Exports in kind, t

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Zimbabwe was the dominant destination for Zambia's wheat and meslin exports in kind, accounting for 88.0% of total flows. The remaining exports were distributed across various other markets.

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

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, Zimbabwe was the primary buyer of wheat and meslin from Zambia in value terms, purchasing 83.2% of total exports. The rest of the exports went to a diverse group of other countries.

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 wheat and meslin to Zambia

Imports in kind, t

Zambia's wheat and meslin imports have grown for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports dropped by 61.0%, reaching their lowest level at 30 440 tonnes. By 2019, imports began to recover, and in 2020, they surged to 58 967 tonnes, which is 52.7% higher than in 2019. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 24.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(61.0%)	26.8%	52.7%	(9.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa, Poland, and Zimbabwe were the main suppliers of wheat and meslin to Zambia in kind. South Africa contributed 55.2% of imports, Poland accounted for 20.7%, and Zimbabwe made up 8.4%. Together, these three countries represented 84.4% 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

Zambia's wheat and meslin imports in value terms have increased for two years in a row. In 2018, imports declined by 44.5%, hitting a low of 10 109 thousand US dollars. The trend reversed in 2019, and by 2020, imports rose to 15 497 thousand US dollars, a 47.3% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports overall decreased by 14.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -5.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(44.5%)	4.1%	47.3%	(5.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa, Poland, and Zimbabwe were the key suppliers of wheat and meslin to Zambia in value terms. South Africa held a 53.8% share of imports, Poland accounted for 18.7%, and Zimbabwe represented 7.2%. Collectively, these three countries made up 79.7% of total imports in value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io