Maputo, April 6, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's tobacco export value grew 16% in 2025 to $258.3 million (€224.5 million), according to the country's central bank.

A Bank of Mozambique report detailing external trade from January to December shows this volume compares with $217.2 million (€189 million) in 2024 and $154.2 million (€134 million) in 2023.

Mozambique considers tobacco a key cash crop. The country is expected to produce 72,380 tonnes in 2025 from a total of 71,000 hectares, down from 92,343 tonnes in 2024.

A second government report on the 2025 budget execution said the value of tobacco production reached 7.255 billion meticais (€98.7 million). This represents a 4.1% drop from 7.567 billion meticais (€103 million) in 2024. Two companies, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco and Sociedade Agrícola de Tabaco, make up the sector.

The government previously warned that BAT's (British American Tobacco) move to South Africa would reduce national production and impact tax revenue.

In the 2022-2023 agricultural year, Mozambique produced 65,856 tonnes from 76,850 hectares, a 15% decline from the previous period.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report from 2023 ranked Mozambique as having the eighth-largest tobacco cultivation area globally.

With an estimated 91,469 hectares, Mozambique was the third-largest producer in Africa, after Zimbabwe (112,770 hectares) and Malawi (100,962 hectares).

Brazil, which holds the third-largest cultivation area at 357,230 hectares, and Mozambique are the only CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) nations mentioned in the WHO report.

The document identified 50 countries with the largest cultivation areas for the plant, once classified as medicinal but now facing political measures against mass use.

PVJ/LYT // ADB.

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