The shortage of foreign currency in Mozambique is compromising the normal operations of INALCA, an Italian company and a leading supplier of animal protein in the country, which warns of the direct effects of the exchange rate crisis on the supply of essential food products for Mozambican families.
“The biggest challenge we face today is the lack of foreign exchange. We cannot convert meticais into hard currency to pay suppliers abroad, which limits our growth and compromises the regularity of supplies,” said Luigi Giglio, INALCA’s Operations Director in Mozambique, on the sidelines of FACIM 2025.
Present in the cities of Maputo, Beira, Nampula, and Pemba, INALCA imports and distributes beef, chicken, and fish, averaging 100 containers of frozen products per month. The company recently launched a line of dry foods, still in the experimental stage, and has a storage capacity of over 14,000 tons, supported by a logistics fleet that covers the entire country.
According to Giglio, limited access to foreign exchange has affected the continuity of orders abroad, creating supply disruptions. “We cannot order many products without ensuring payment in advance, a situation that breaks our stocks and reduces supply to consumers,” he explained.
He stressed that the goods supplied by the company are part of the population’s basic food basket. “The day we have consistent access to foreign currency, we will significantly increase our imports, which will help Mozambican families have greater access to quality staple products.”
Beyond the economic impact, INALCA highlighted its social contribution in Mozambique, creating more than 100 direct jobs and around 200 indirect jobs. “In total, we estimate our operations sustain approximately 300 jobs, including internal staff, transporters, customs agents, and service providers,” Giglio noted.
Despite the challenges, the company reaffirmed its commitment to Mozambique, investing in the expansion of its warehouse in Maputo and broadening its product range, including Italian specialties. “The Mozambican market is price-sensitive, but it responds well. We work to maintain quality within an affordable range.”
The exchange rate crisis is a concern across the national business fabric. The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) recently warned about the shortage of foreign currency in commercial banks, which has prevented the settlement of external payment requests. According to the association, unpaid invoices totaling 402 million dollars (25.6 billion meticais) have been submitted, a situation that could contribute to rising inflation.
Source: Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM)
