Wood charcoal market in Malawi

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, Malawi's wood charcoal market volume expanded consistently, rising from 590.9 thousand tonnes to 660.8 thousand tonnes. This growth occurred alongside the government's implementation of the National Charcoal Strategy for 2017–2027, which aimed to guide sustainable charcoal use and promote alternative energy sources like LPG, biogas, and biomass briquettes. The strategy included promoting clean and efficient cookstoves to reduce charcoal and firewood consumption, with a target of equipping 2 million households by 2020, and removing certain taxes on alternative cooking fuels and efficient technologies to encourage lower charcoal use.

Production and market size continued to increase each year through 2022, reaching 646.0 thousand tonnes. The steady upward trend suggests persistent demand for charcoal as a cooking fuel, even as policy measures sought to shift consumption patterns.

In 2023, the market grew further to 660.8 thousand tonnes. That year, the government launched a Carbon Market Initiative targeting around $600 million in annual revenue from carbon credit sales. Projects like Hestian and C‑Quest promoted improved stoves that use less wood, aimed at reducing deforestation. Simultaneously, authorities strengthened enforcement against illegal charcoal production through awareness campaigns and joint operations involving police, forest authorities, and the Anti‑Corruption Bureau.

Production wood charcoal in Malawi

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Malawi was one of the world's leading producers of wood charcoal, ranking 21st globally by production volume.

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Malawi's wood charcoal production increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 617.5 thousand tonnes. This represented a slight year-on-year rise of 2.2%. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6.9%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.

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

Exports wood charcoal from Malawi

Exports in kind, t

Wood charcoal exports from Malawi showed significant fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.0 tonnes, then surged by 38.9% to 0.0 tonnes in 2020. The peak occurred in 2018, with exports in 2019 being 192 times lower than that peak. The most substantial decline was recorded in 2019 at 99.5%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, South Africa was the nearly exclusive buyer of Malawi's wood charcoal exports, accounting for 99.6% of total export volume.

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, $ US

Malawi's wood charcoal export revenues declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, falling to just 1 US dollar. This represented a dramatic 75.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2018-2020 period, export revenues dropped by 99.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -85.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Malawi's wood charcoal export revenues were heavily dependent on South Africa, which accounted for 91.0% of total export value.

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

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

Imports wood charcoal to Malawi

Imports in kind, t

Wood charcoal imports into Malawi experienced notable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 8.9 tonnes, then increased by 20.4% in 2020. The peak occurred in 2017, with imports in 2019 being 14.1 times lower than that peak. The most significant decline was recorded in 2019 at 90.6%.

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

During 2017-2020, Mozambique and South Africa together formed the main supplier group for Malawi's wood charcoal imports, accounting for 98.7% of total import volume.

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, $ US

After two years of reduction, Malawi's wood charcoal import expenditures increased in 2020. Import values reached their lowest point in 2019 at 8 477 US dollars, then rose by 1.8% in 2020. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, import expenditures decreased by 55.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -23.6%. The most substantial decline was recorded in 2019 at 47.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the key supplier of wood charcoal to Malawi in value terms, accounting for 70.2% of total import expenditures, while a diversified group of other countries accounted for the remainder.

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

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