The country is benefiting from estimated annual savings of $20 million as a result of the tariff exemption policy implemented by China on Mozambican exports, a measure that strengthens bilateral economic relations and opens new prospects for economic growth.
The information was recently disclosed by China’s ambassador to Mozambique, Zheng Xuan, according to the Mozambique Information Agency (AIM), who emphasized that the initiative, in effect since December 2024, represents a milestone in deepening economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to the diplomat, in 2025 alone, Mozambique will have saved approximately $20 million under this policy, which is based on the principle of shared benefits and mutual gains.
The exemption from customs duties allows Mozambican products to access the Chinese market under more competitive conditions, boosting exports of both raw materials and industrial goods. This preferential access to the world’s largest consumer market is, according to Zheng Xuan, a key factor in boosting the national economy.
Among the key impacts identified are the stimulation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, job creation, the attraction of foreign direct investment, and the facilitation of technology transfer. The measure also contributes to reducing the trade deficit between Mozambique and China by gradually balancing the trade balance.
The zero-tariff policy, which has been gradually implemented over the past few years and will be fully consolidated for Mozambique by 2024, is part of China’s broader strategy to promote sustainable and shared development with African countries.
In this context, the diplomat also highlighted the recent approval of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, an instrument that guides the country’s economic and foreign policies and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Africa’s development. Mozambique emerges as one of the priority partners, with a focus on strategic sectors such as agriculture, trade, infrastructure, and mineral resources.
By 2025 alone, Mozambique will have saved approximately $20 million under this policy, which is based on the principle of shared benefits and mutual gains
Zheng Xuan – Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique
The alignment between this plan and the priorities of the Mozambican government is expected to create new investment opportunities and deepen bilateral technical and economic cooperation, at a time when the country is seeking to accelerate the diversification of its productive base.
Data from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation indicate that African countries with access to zero-tariff regimes tend to see export increases of between 10% and 30% in the first few years of implementation, underscoring the potential of this measure to boost Mozambique’s external performance.
The evolution of economic cooperation between Mozambique and China thus points toward an increasingly structured and strategic model, with positive medium- and long-term effects on the national economy.
