Malawi

Africa
Malawi world map

Trade in Malawi

Malawi was the world’s 155th largest exporter of goods and 161st largest exporter of commercial services in 2025. Export values were $914 and $483 million USD respectively. Malawi’s top export category was agricultural products, followed by manufactures, and fuels and mining products. In 2023, Malawi’s main export destination markets for goods and services trade were to Belgium, Tanzania and China, with trade representing 41.09 per cent of GDP. In terms of imports, Malawi is the world’s 148th largest importer of goods and 158th largest importer of commercial services. Import values were $4051 and $1011 million USD respectively in 2025. Malawi’s top import category was manufactures, followed by fuels and mining products and agricultural products.  Leading import partners were China, South Africa and United Arab Emirates. Malawi is part of 3 different Regional Trade Agreements, including with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) – Accession of Egypt and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) – Accession of Seychelles.

 

Regional Trade Agreements Database  

General Information

This section includes general information on the economy, legal system, official languages and links to additional demographic information.

Official Name

Republic of Malawi

Abbreviation

MW

Capital

Lilongwe

WTO Membership Date

31 May 1995

Legal System

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal

Language

Chichewa, English

Number of Time Zone(s)

1

Additional Information

Financial Information

This section includes financial information such as the currency, exchange rate lookup and local banks issuing trade finance.

Currency

Malawian kwacha

Exchange Rate

 Google Finance Currencies

Contact Information

This section includes contact information for business support organizations and national resources.

Business Support Organizations

  • Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry

    Chamber of commerce

    [email protected]

  • Malawi Investment and Trade Centre

    Trade promotion organization (TPO)

    [email protected]

Copyright Offices

  • Copyright Society of Malawi

  • Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife (COSOMA)

Industrial Property Offices

  • Department of Registrar General

  • Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

SPS Enquiry Points

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.

  • Animal health:


    Director of Animal Health


    Department of Animal Health and Industry


    Phone: +(265) 1 750 455/751 349

    P.O. Box 2096

    [email protected]

  • Food safety:

    Director General

    Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS)

    Phone: +(265) 1 870 488

    Website: http://www.mbsmw.org

    Moirs Road

    P.O. Box 946

    [email protected]

  • Plant protection:
    Deputy Director of Agriculture Research Services
    Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station
    Phone: +(265) 1 471 206/207/527

    P.O. Box 5748

    [email protected]

TBT Enquiry Points

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.

  • Director General
    Malawi Bureau of Standards
    Phone: +265 887375444
    Website: www.mbsmw.org

    P.O. Box 946
    Blantyre

    [email protected]

Additional Information

 ePing alert

Links to other helpful resources

This section includes additional links to trade-related resources.

Trade Information Portal

 https://mitc.mw/trade/

Last Reviewed: October, 2026

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