Mozambique Trade Data 2026: $8.3B Exports, $10.1B Imports, AGOA Access
Mozambique's total exports reached $8.28 billion and imports $10.09 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of approximately $1.8 billion. Trade represents 95.67% of GDP — one of the highest ratios in Africa. US imports from Mozambique totaled $165.12 million in 2025, with the US running a trade surplus in some months.
Trade Overview 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total exports | $8.28 billion |
| Total imports | $10.09 billion |
| Trade balance | -$1.8 billion (deficit) |
| Trade as % of GDP | 95.67% |
| US imports from Mozambique | $165.12 million (2025) |
| US exports to Mozambique | Varies ($2.7M-$27.9M monthly) |
| AGOA status | Active through December 2026 |
| AfCFTA status | Active |
Top Exports
| Export | Value | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | $2B+ | India, China, Japan |
| Aluminum | $1B+ | EU, Asia |
| Natural gas/LNG | Growing | Europe, Asia |
| Cashew nuts | $120M+ | India, Vietnam, EU |
| Prawns/shrimp | $100M+ | EU, Japan |
| Cotton | $50M+ | Asia |
| Sugar | $50M+ | EU, regional |
| Titanium/heavy minerals | $40M+ | Global |
| Timber | $30M+ | China |
Top Imports
| Import | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery/equipment | $2B+ | China, South Africa, EU |
| Fuel/petroleum | $1.5B+ | Middle East, India |
| Food products | $1B+ | South Africa, Brazil |
| Chemicals | $800M+ | China, EU, South Africa |
| Vehicles | $500M+ | Japan, South Africa |
| Textiles | $400M+ | China, India |
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Trade Agreements
AGOA (through December 2026)
- Duty-free access to US markets
- Covers cashew, cotton, textiles, processed foods
- US imports from Mozambique: $165M in 2025
- Urgency: AGOA expires December 2026
AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)
- 54 African countries
- Reduces tariffs and trade barriers
- Creates continental market of 1.3 billion people
- Regional value chains opportunity
EU Economic Partnership Agreement
- Duty-free/quota-free access to EU
- Sugar, cotton, processed foods covered
- SPS compliance required
SADC (Southern African Development Community)
- Regional trade preferences
- 16 member states
- Maputo, Beira, Nacala corridors connect SADC to global markets
The Value Gap: Raw vs. Processed
Mozambique's core trade problem: exports raw materials, imports processed goods.
| Product | Export (Raw) | Import (Processed) | Value Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashew | $2/kg raw nut | $8-12/kg processed kernel | 4-6x |
| Cotton | $1.50/kg raw | $10-20/m fabric | 7-13x |
| Coconut | $0.50/kg copra | $5-10/L coconut water | 10-20x |
| Prawns | $3-5/kg landed | $30-50/kg EU retail | 6-10x |
| Timber | $200/m³ round log | $2,000+/m³ furniture | 10x |
Closing this value gap = billions in additional GDP.
MBC's Trade Infrastructure
- Marketplace — Connect producers with domestic and international buyers
- Commodity exchange — WhatsApp trading floor with M-Pesa escrow
- Export readiness — Quality certification, packaging compliance
- Logistics — Cargo matching, transport pooling, collection hubs
- Price alerts — M-Pesa SMS notifications when prices peak
- AGOA compliance — Documentation and certification support
The Bottom Line
Mozambique's trade is remarkably open (95.67% of GDP) but structurally disadvantaged — exporting raw materials and importing processed goods. The $1.8 billion trade deficit could become a surplus if Mozambique processes commodities locally before export.
AGOA expires in December 2026. AfCFTA is just beginning. The window for building processing capacity under preferential trade access is now.
MBC's marketplace, commodity exchange, and logistics platform provide the digital infrastructure to connect Mozambican producers to global markets — capturing value locally instead of exporting it abroad.
Explore trade opportunities at /marketplace or WhatsApp +1 (516) 360-8323.