Mozambican Macadamia Industry Set to Continue Impressive Growth

Published Aug 10, 2021

The Mozambican macadamia industry has been growing exceptionally over the past decade, and further growth is expected, with the government and private investors looking to boost the sector. Having begun in 2000, macadamia farming is a fledgling industry in Mozambique, with significant shipments commencing in 2013. Tridge interviewed Lucia Antionio Roque, a Mozambican macadamia expert, to gain insight into the industry.

Investment set to boost the sector

The Mozambican Prime Minister, Carlos do Rosario, announced in April 2021 that the government had placed agriculture as its top priority to reach the UN's aim to reach " Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture" by 2030. The government will increase agricultural resources, which currently amount to 10% of the country's budget. As a growing agricultural industry, Mozambican macadamia will benefit from the increased government investment. A new exploration of commercial macadamia production has commenced in the Southern province of Mozambique, in Maputo province. This project is funded by American investors, and the crop is expected to mature within three years (2024). This project will help meet the rising local and international demand.

A macadamia farm in Mozambique. (Source: The Macadamia)

According to Roque, this level of investment from both the private and public sectors will increase the growth rate of the country's macadamia industry, which is heavily reliant on investment.

"In Mozambique, only large companies can produce and export macadamia because macadamia nut farming requires considerable investment in terms of land size and irrigation system installation. There are around 35 major companies exporting macadamia in Mozambique, with a capacity of around 100K metric tons. Macadamia producers in the country also export their products directly without the use of middlemen," explains Roque.

Market growth

In 2020, Mozambique exported 1,472 metric tons of macadamia nuts, almost similar to the 1,476 metric tons shipped in 2019. The country has witnessed significant growth in macadamia exports over the past decade. In 2019 alone, the interest in Mozambique macadamia nuts improved by 54% compared to 2018, and between 2017 and 2019, macadamia nuts' exports rose by 218.1%, reaching USD 5.80 million in 2019.

“Mozambique is currently harvesting macadamia as the season runs from May to September. The main export destinations are Hong Kong and Vietnam, with Hong Kong serving as the pathway to enter the Chinese market because Mozambican macadamia nuts are not approved for export to China,” states Roque.

Mozambican macadamia has a diverse range of destinations, from North America to Asia. It is usually exported in-shell and deshelled at the destination point.

“Mozambican macadamia nuts are only exported raw and are dried in warehouses before packaging. A large portion of the Mozambican macadamia is also exported to South Africa and deshelled there before being distributed globally,” concluded Roque.