Mozambique plans to enhance macadamia nut exports, targeting the Chinese market. A three-year protocol with China aims to ease the entry of these nuts, exempting them from customs fees.
Feliza Macome, from the Almond Institute of Mozambique, shared with 'Notícias' that the protocol also includes pigeon peas and cashew nuts, joining 400 duty-free Mozambican products in China. The subsector is promoting almond cultivation and encouraging local producers to engage in production and export.
Macome stated, "The objective is to encourage nationals to produce, process, and export almonds. We have experience of this in the provinces of Maputo and Niassa and we want others to embrace the opportunity."
Last year, Mozambique produced about 6,000 tons of macadamia, mainly exported to South Africa at US$5.00 per kilo. The country currently has 54 macadamia growers, with 27 being domestic. Manica, Niassa, and Maputo provinces hold the largest number of commercial producers, with plantations covering over 8,000 hectares. The sector is exploring regulations similar to the cashew industry.
The customs tariff exemption is part of efforts to enhance trade between Mozambique and China, aiming to boost economic growth and diversify exports. Besides China and South Africa, Mozambique exports macadamias to Vietnam.
Source: Club of Mozambique