Mozambique has lost approximately 430 million meticais ($6.6 million) over the past three years due to the illegal export of oilseeds, according to Acubar Baptista, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries, who estimates that up to 35% of production is being sold outside formal channels.
“The oilseed sector plays a significant economic role, contributing more than $150 million a year to the balance of payments. This figure represents more than 30% of the total value of Mozambique’s agricultural exports,” the official stated during a meeting on illegal exports in the sector and their impact on “building a stronger national economy,” which took place this Wednesday (8) in Maputo.
On that occasion, Baptista explained that, although oilseeds are a strategic factor for diversifying the export base and generating foreign exchange, the country loses substantial revenue each season due to illegal exports.
“It is estimated that between 25% and 35% of oilseed production is sold outside formal channels, which has serious consequences for the national economy. For example, over the past three years, these practices have resulted in revenue losses of approximately 430 million meticais,” the official noted.
“Data available on the platforms of the Chinese and Japanese customs authorities indicate that, in the last three years alone, Mozambique has exported a cumulative volume of more than 350,000 tons of oilseeds to those countries; however, when compared with official national records, these figures reveal a shortfall of approximately $270 million,” explained Acubar Baptista.
Ancha Ismail, director of the Central Market Valuation Services at the Mozambican Cotton and Oilseeds Institute, stated that, during the same period, the country faced problems with soybean smuggling, particularly in the border districts of Zambezia and Niassa, where it was found that approximately 35,000 tons were illegally transported to Malawi.
“These operations took place outside the formal customs and tax control systems,” she added.
Source: Lusa
