The government has announced that Mozambique’s Northern Region — comprising the provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, and Niassa — was responsible for 53% of the country’s total exports in 2024, amounting to approximately 268 billion meticais (US$4 billion).
During the opening of the MozExport Northern Regional Conference, held in Nampula, the Secretary of State for Trade, António do Rosário Grispos, highlighted the strategic role this region plays in the country’s trade balance. According to Grispos, the North contributed around 6% of Mozambique’s exports to the African continent, totaling about 6.7 billion meticais (US$105 million).
In terms of Mozambique’s overall trade performance in 2024, the country recorded a trade deficit of 93 billion meticais (US$1.4 billion) — an improvement of 29% compared to 2023, when the deficit stood at 131 billion meticais (US$2 billion).
- Exports totaled 508 billion meticais (US$7.9 billion), representing a 3% decrease,
- Imports amounted to 602 billion meticais (US$9.4 billion), a 9% drop.
The government drew attention to the low participation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in export activity, which currently account for just 19% of total exports. Grispos emphasized the need to strengthen the role of MSMEs in the export value chain, noting that these businesses hold much of the country’s productive potential.
The conference also highlighted a 13% growth in agricultural exports, which now represent 12% of total exports.
The MozExport initiative, launched by the Ministry of Economy, aims to:
- Disseminate information about trade agreements,
- Promote economic literacy, especially among MSMEs,
- And stimulate competitive national production for both regional and international markets.
Grispos stressed that Mozambique has multilateral and bilateral trade agreements with over 54 countries, including:
- SADC member states,
- The European Union,
- The United Kingdom,
- Indonesia,
- China,
- And the United States.
These agreements provide preferential access to external markets, often with no tariffs or quotas, making Mozambican products more competitive and encouraging their internationalization.
The Nampula conference follows a high-level ceremony held in Beira in April, which officially launched Mozambique’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under the leadership of Prime Minister Maria Benvida Levi.
Finally, Grispos underlined that these trade agreements present a key opportunity to diversify Mozambique’s export portfolio, with a strong focus on including MSMEs, a sector dominated by such enterprises.
The next edition of MozExport is scheduled for August, in Tete province.
Source: Notícias
