File photo: Banco de Moçambique
India was the country that bought the most from Mozambique in 2024, until September, totalling US$1.166 billion (€1.113 billion), equivalent to 19% of Mozambique’s exports.
According to data from a report on foreign trade from January to September 2024 by the Bank of Mozambique, to which Lusa had access on Tuesday, Mozambique’s total exports in this period amounted to US$6.178.6 billion (€5.901 billion), an increase of 3.7% compared to the nine months of 2023.
India led these purchases, essentially natural gas and coal, Mozambique’s two main export products, but also dried vegetables and cashew nuts.
South Africa, with 15% of total exports, valued at US$941 million (€898.7 million), came second in purchases from Mozambique, mainly natural gas, electricity, coal and bananas, the report says.
China, meanwhile, has moved closer to the top of Mozambique’s export destinations, with purchases up to September of US$889 million (€849 million), a total weight of 14% (12.2% up to June), essentially natural gas, oil seeds and fruits, heavy sands and coal.
In the opposite direction, Mozambique’s imports fell by 1.7% year-on-year to US$6.455 billion (€6.164 billion), led by purchases from South Africa, with 25% of the total, amounting to US$1.636 billion (€1.562 billion), mainly electricity, vehicles for transporting goods, iron bars and cereal flour.
China was the second country that sold the most to Mozambique in the first nine months, with a total weight of 17%, totalling US$1.078.7 billion (€1.030 billion), supplying tractors, vehicles for transporting goods, various pesticides and heavy machinery.
It was followed by India, with a weight of 7%, which stood out in the supply of fuels, rice, medicines, wagons for transporting goods and books, other products that cost US$433.3 million (€413.8 million).