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Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Mozambique is open to foreign trade, which represents nearly 112% of the country's GDP (World Bank, 2016). The current government's trade policy aims to implement structural reforms to customs duties, customs and VAT procedures to encourage exports.  

At the moment, customs duties remain high; however, there are non-tariff barriers in the country. Additionally, the Government seeks to reform its trade regulations to improve its business climate. Mozambique could become one of the largest exporters of natural gas in the world by 2020 (the country hosts the third largest reserve in Africa) thanks to the discovery of new reserves. Lastly, the planned construction of natural gas plants as well as a new dam should allow the country to increase its electricity exports to neighbouring countries. Export infrastructure (railroads, deep water ports, liquefied natural gas plants) is also under construction. The country is expected to export natural gas and coal to Asia by 2020.  

Mozambique's trade balance is negative and should remain so until coal and gas exports to Asia begin. According to the Mozambique Institute of Statistics, exports of goods rose slightly between 2015 and 2016, while imports declined. This trend led to a weaker trade deficit (USD -4.25 billion, against USD -6.47 billion in 2015). However, the trade balance is expected to remain in deficit in 2017.

The negative current account balance is due to the country's need to import goods and services to develop its infrastructure (gas, transport).The country primarily exports natural resources (aluminium, hydrocarbons, coking coal, coal, titanium, gemstones), tobacco and sugar. In 2016, its main customers were South Africa, the Netherlands, India, Singapore, China and the United States. Mozambique imports hydrocarbons, metal products, vehicles, machinery and equipment, chemical products, foodstuffs (rice, wheat) and medications. In 2016, its main suppliers were South Africa, Singapore, China, India, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Trade Indicators	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Imports of Goods (million USD)	8,688	10,099	8,747	8,293	5,295
Exports of Goods (million USD)	3,856	4,024	4,725	4,195	3,355
Imports of Services (million USD)	4,448	3,857	3,624	3,285	3,203
Exports of Services (million USD)	792	645	725	675	422
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	62	29	15	-7	8
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	13	2	16	-1	1
Trade Balance (million USD)	-4,048	-4,357	-4,035	-4,163	n/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP)	111	114	118	104	112
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	78	84	85	72	77
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	32	30	33	32	35

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers (% of Exports)	2015
Netherlands	29.8%
South Africa	18.3%
India	10.6%
Singapore	4.6%
Italy	3.1%
Belgium	2.8%
China	2.7%
United Kingdom	2.5%
Zimbabwe	2.5%
Namibia	2.2%

Main Suppliers (% of Imports)	2015
South Africa	30.1%
China	12.5%
Netherlands	7.3%
Portugal	5.8%
Bahrain	5.2%
United Arab Emirates	4.3%
India	4.0%
France	3.4%
Japan	3.1%
United States	2.5%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

Main Products

3.2 bn USD of products exported in 2015
Bars, rods and profiles, of aluminium, n.e.s.	28.5%
Coke and semi-coke of coal, of lignite or of peat, whether or not agglomerated; retort carbon	12.1%
Electrical energy	9.9%
Unmanufactured tobacco; tobacco refuse	9.2%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons	7.2%
Unwrought aluminium	4.5%
Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form	3.7%
Titanium ores and concentrates	3.4%
Precious stones and semi-precious stones, whether or not worked or graded, but not strung, mounted or set, ungraded precious stones and semi-precious stones, temporarily strung for convenience of transport (excl. diamonds and imitation precious stones and semi-precious stones)	3.1%
Niobium, tantalum, vanadium or zirconium ores and concentrates	1.1%

7.9 bn USD of products imported in 2015
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals	9.0%
Fishing vessels; factory ships and other vessels for processing or preserving fishery products (excl. fishing boats for sport)	6.7%
Unwrought aluminium	5.9%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab	4.1%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses incl. those in the form of transdermal administration or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006)	3.5%
Electrical energy	3.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702)	2.0%
Rice	1.9%
Structures and parts of structures e.g., bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns, of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. prefabricated buildings of heading 9406)	1.8%
Wheat and meslin	1.8%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

Main Services

0.7 bn USD of services exported in 2015
Transportation	60.35%
Travel	26.68%
Insurance services	6.65%
Other business services	4.01%
Communications services	2.31%
Financial services	n/a%

3.0 bn USD of services imported in 2015
Other business services	49.17%
Transportation	29.15%
Travel	7.48%
Construction services	5.57%
Insurance services	4.67%
Government services	1.33%
Computer and information services	1.29%
Royalties and license fees	0.67%
Financial services	0.61%
Cultural and recreational services	0.06%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

Trade Compliance

International Conventions: Member of World Trade Organisation
Main International Economic Cooperation: Member of Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Member of African Union
Useful Resources: Mozambique Customs
National Organisation of Intellectual Property: The Industrial Property Institute (IPI).

Learn more about How to Export to Mozambique on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.