Tea exports surged to $7.2 million (about K13.6 billion) in March this year, accounting for about 24 percent of total exports valued at $30 million (about K53 billion), National Statistical Office (NSO) data shows.
Data contained in the NSO International Merchandise Trade Statistics shows that tea was followed by macadamia nuts at $4.6 million (about K8 billion), representing 14.8 percent of total exports while pulses were recorded at $3.7 million (about K6.4 billion), an equivalent of 12.4 percent.
The data further shows that sugar exports were the fourth highest at 11.4 percent while tobacco, the country’s main export crop, dropped to fifth covering only 10 percent of the exports.
Tea exports have been surging over the past three months from $5.5 million (about K10 billion) in January to $6.2 million (about K11 billion) in February and $7.2 million in March, according to NSO .
Weak tobacco exports means that total exports dropped year-on-year, tumbling by 37.6 percent to $30 million (about K53 billion) in March 2025 from $41 million (about K72 billion) in March 2024 and widening the trade deficit by 26.8 percent to $234.8 million (about K411 billion) in March 2025.
This means that month-on-month, the deficit partly eased due to a 10 percent decline of imports compared to February 2025.
Reads the report in part: “Imports declined by 9.8 percent from $293.7 million [about K514 billion] in February to $264.8 million [about K464 billion] in March.
On the other hand, exports declined by 7.7 percent from $32.6 million [about K57 billion] in February to $30 million [about K53 billion] in March.”
Ministry of Trade and Industry spokesperson Patrick Botha said in an interview yesterday that the terms of trade are in line with the National Export Strategy II, which targets competitiveness and diversity of export base beyond traditional crops such as tobacco.
He said: “This reflects that our export diversification efforts are bearing fruits.
“Malawi also intends to leverage regional integration through its participation in regional blocs such as African Continental Free Trade Area, Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa as opportunities to explore new markets for such value-added products like rubber.”
Tea Association of Malawi chairperson Sangwani Hara said increased imports of Malawi tea by countries such as United Kingdom can transition the country from aid dependent to trade.
“With increased tea imports from Malawi, British tea drinkers will be allowed to consume a great product at a fair price while contributing to Malawi’s foreign exchange earnings,” he said.
Tea is one of Malawi’s foreign exchange earners, contributing about eight percent to forex earnings and 11 percent to national employment.
The local tea industry employs about 60 000 temporary and permanent workers.
