Sector footprint
$259.0M in exports
Reported agriculture and food exports in 2024 across 46 qualifying HS6 products.
Sector export playbook ยท HS 01-24
Malawi Agriculture and food exports
where capability meets demand
Explore Malawi's HS 01-24 product portfolio, buyer markets, growth signals, and diversification opportunities. Use this guide to prioritize research, not to treat calculated indicators as guaranteed sales.
Sector exports$259.0M2024 reported value
Products46Qualifying HS6 products
Buyer markets30Markets represented
Average CAGR+2.2%Product-level growth signal
Global sector size$145.8BReported buyer imports
Agriculture and food capability
How strong is Malawi in this sector?
Compare exporter scale with product breadth, buyer demand, growth, and destination reach. A large sector does not remove the need for product, compliance, pricing, and buyer validation.
Global demand
$145.8B buyer imports
The sector's reported buyer import base provides context for product and market prioritization.
How to use the guide
Find the next credible move
Start with products that combine demand and exporter capability, then validate standards, route economics, buyers, and competition.
Product portfolio
Which products anchor the sector?
Each HS6 product is ranked by calculated opportunity and shown with reported market size, exporter exports, growth, and destination reach.
| Product | Global size | Your exports | Opportunity | CAGR | Markets | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 120190Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken | $47.8B | $127.0K | $62.4B | +29.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 090111Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated | $23.8B | $2.0M | $9.9B | +0.8% | 15 | +0.0% |
| HS 210690Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10 | $17.2B | $8.9K | $8.1B | +0.4% | 8 | +0.0% |
| HS 170114Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $3.9B | $7.2M | $3.0B | +9.3% | 4 | +0.1% |
| HS 090121Coffee: roasted, not decaffeinated | $5.0B | $28.4K | $3.0B | +11.7% | 5 | +0.0% |
| HS 240120Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped | $4.6B | $187.1M | $2.2B | +16.1% | 4 | +3.8% |
| HS 100630Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed | $2.5B | $16.3K | $1.9B | +4.5% | 3 | +0.0% |
| HS 170113Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $830.7M | $244.8 | $1.5B | +18.2% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 170199Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $2.9B | $185.0K | $1.4B | -11.8% | 4 | +0.0% |
| HS 220300Beer: made from malt | $1.7B | $830.5 | $1.4B | +5.6% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 120740Oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken | $2.4B | $874.7K | $1.3B | +4.1% | 3 | +0.1% |
| HS 200819Nuts and other seeds: whether or not containing added sugar, other sweetening matter or spirit (excluding ground-nuts except in mixtures) | $1.8B | $2.4K | $1.3B | -16.4% | 3 | +0.0% |
| HS 071310Vegetables, leguminous: peas (pisum sativum), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $1.7B | $1.2M | $1.3B | +6.9% | 2 | +0.1% |
| HS 190590Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products | $3.5B | $152.6 | $1.1B | +41.9% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 090240Tea, black: (fermented) and partly fermented tea, in immediate packings of a content exceeding 3kg | $1.2B | $5.2M | $1.1B | +1.1% | 3 | +0.4% |
| HS 060319Flowers, cut: flowers and buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or ornamental purposes, fresh, other than roses, carnations, orchids, or chrysanthemums | $1.1B | $9.6K | $1.0B | +1.0% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 120242Ground-nuts: other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, shelled, whether or not broken, | $1.1B | $142.4K | $1.0B | -17.6% | 3 | +0.0% |
| HS 220710Undenatured ethyl alcohol: of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher | $1.6B | $8.8K | $1.0B | -62.7% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 100590Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed | $510.6M | $22.2K | $988.8M | -5.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 090421Spices: fruits of the genus Capsicum or Pimenta, dried, neither crushed nor ground | $470.8M | $101.9 | $859.1M | -20.0% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 071340Vegetables, leguminous: lentils, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $992.3M | $72.9K | $844.0M | +10.0% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 071320Vegetables, leguminous: chickpeas (garbanzos), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $634.0M | $202.8K | $732.5M | +5.7% | 1 | +0.1% |
| HS 071331Vegetables, leguminous: beans of the species vigna mungo (l.) hepper or vigna radiata (l.) wilczek, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $617.9M | $307.3K | $730.0M | +2.8% | 1 | +0.1% |
| HS 220410Wine: sparkling | $1.2B | $1.3 | $698.7M | -46.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 151190Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $666.9M | $37.9K | $685.9M | -14.6% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 080450Fruit, edible: guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried | $879.5M | $74.8K | $656.3M | +133.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 060311Flowers, cut: roses, flowers and buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or ornamental purposes, fresh | $903.2M | $11.8K | $626.2M | -12.4% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 210390Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings | $1.8B | $86.7 | $497.4M | -12.2% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 151590Vegetable fats and oils and their fractions: fixed, n.e.s. in heading no. 1515, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $734.9M | $116.9K | $481.9M | +7.6% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 090411Spices: pepper (of the genus piper), neither crushed nor ground | $572.0M | $84.1K | $464.1M | +8.9% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 240319Tobacco: smoking, other than water pipe tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any proportion | $799.8M | $4.4K | $367.7M | +21.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 071360Vegetables, leguminous: pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | $1.1B | $53.6M | $365.9M | +19.8% | 1 | +5.0% |
| HS 220210Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured | $383.5M | $1.8 | $341.3M | -23.7% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 080131Nuts, edible: cashew nuts, in shell, fresh or dried | $1.3B | $90.6K | $340.6M | +11.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 070960Vegetables: fruits of the genus capsicum or of the genus pimenta | $603.7M | $37.0K | $334.7M | +7.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 220299Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or vegetable juices of heading no. 2009 | $1.1B | $5.3K | $330.4M | +9.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 121190Plants and parts (including seeds and fruits) n.e.c. in heading no. 1211, of a kind used primarily in perfumery, in pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not cut, crushed or powdered | $291.8M | $166.8K | $254.5M | +16.9% | 1 | +0.1% |
| HS 060290Plants, live: n.e.s. in heading no. 0602 | $667.8M | $213.8 | $250.2M | -15.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 200599Vegetable preparations: vegetables and mixtures of vegetables n.e.c. in heading no. 2005, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, not frozen | $748.7M | $4.8K | $232.8M | -32.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 080290Nuts, edible: n.e.c. in heading no. 0801 and 0802, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled | $397.2M | $398.9 | $227.7M | -17.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 090112Coffee: decaffeinated, not roasted | $597.2M | $61.1K | $218.2M | -16.0% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 170490Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa | $1.1B | $170.5 | $217.8M | +40.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 190531Food preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa | $715.3M | $24.0 | $217.8M | +67.4% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 100199Cereals: wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat, other than seed | $524.4M | $231.5 | $217.2M | +5.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 220820Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc | $124.7M | $35.1 | $206.1M | -3.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 220429Wine: still, in containers holding more than 2 litres | $620.2M | $7.0 | $201.3M | -8.4% | 1 | +0.0% |
Best markets
Where does sector demand concentrate?
Markets are ranked by calculated opportunity across the qualifying products in this sector view.
CHN
China
7 products represented in the sector.
$66.3B$53.3B reported buyer importsUSA
USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
13 products represented in the sector.
$11.8B$23.6B reported buyer importsGBR
United Kingdom
13 products represented in the sector.
$4.7B$13.5B reported buyer importsDEU
Germany
7 products represented in the sector.
$4.6B$8.7B reported buyer importsCAN
Canada
5 products represented in the sector.
$4.3B$5.2B reported buyer importsIND
India
8 products represented in the sector.
$4.0B$6.1B reported buyer importsARE
United Arab Emirates
4 products represented in the sector.
$3.5B$2.5B reported buyer importsNLD
Netherlands
7 products represented in the sector.
$2.5B$5.8B reported buyer importsFRA
France
4 products represented in the sector.
$1.8B$4.7B reported buyer importsZAF
South Africa
5 products represented in the sector.
$1.7B$2.0B reported buyer importsITA
Italy
2 products represented in the sector.
$1.6B$3.6B reported buyer importsBEL
Belgium
3 products represented in the sector.
$1.5B$4.0B reported buyer importsGrowth stars
Which products show the strongest growth?
Average product-level CAGR is a screening signal. Confirm the latest trend, base effects, buyer quality, and commercial feasibility before acting.
| Product | Average CAGR | Opportunity | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 080450Fruit, edible: guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried | +133.9% | $656.3M | 1 |
| HS 190531Food preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoa | +67.4% | $217.8M | 1 |
| HS 190590Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products | +41.9% | $1.1B | 2 |
| HS 170490Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa | +40.2% | $217.8M | 1 |
| HS 120190Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken | +29.5% | $62.4B | 1 |
| HS 240319Tobacco: smoking, other than water pipe tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any proportion | +21.3% | $367.7M | 1 |
| HS 071360Vegetables, leguminous: pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried | +19.8% | $365.9M | 1 |
| HS 170113Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | +18.2% | $1.5B | 2 |
| HS 121190Plants and parts (including seeds and fruits) n.e.c. in heading no. 1211, of a kind used primarily in perfumery, in pharmacy or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not cut, crushed or powdered | +16.9% | $254.5M | 1 |
| HS 240120Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped | +16.1% | $2.2B | 4 |
Diversification opportunities
Which products reach the widest buyer base?
Destination count is a simple breadth indicator. It does not measure destination concentration or guarantee resilience.
HS 090111
Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
15 markets$9.9B calculated opportunityHS 210690
Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10
8 markets$8.1B calculated opportunityHS 090121
Coffee: roasted, not decaffeinated
5 markets$3.0B calculated opportunityHS 170114
Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
4 markets$3.0B calculated opportunityHS 240120
Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped
4 markets$2.2B calculated opportunityHS 170199
Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
4 markets$1.4B calculated opportunityHS 100630
Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed
3 markets$1.9B calculated opportunityHS 120740
Oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken
3 markets$1.3B calculated opportunityFrequently asked questions
Using the Agriculture and food export playbook
Practical guidance for interpreting sector scale, growth, product breadth, and buyer markets.
How strong is Malawi in this sector?
Compare sector exports, product breadth, buyer markets, growth, and global demand. These signals identify research priorities rather than guarantee market access.
What are growth stars?
Products with higher average reported growth in the screened rows. Validate the time period, base effects, buyer demand, and current exporter position.
What does diversification mean here?
Products reaching more buyer markets in the screened data. Destination breadth is useful context but does not replace concentration, route, or buyer analysis.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.