Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambique’s exports grew slightly in the first quarter of the year to more than €1.540 billion, driven by the increase in gas sales abroad, which increased by 70.1% compared to the same period in 2022.
A statistical report by the Bank of Mozambique on the balance of payments in the first quarter, consulted by Lusa on Friday, said that this “positive evolution recorded in export revenues is justified, essentially, by the growth in sales of products exported” by the so-called Major Projects.
“With emphasis on the extractive industry sector”, which includes natural gas, heavy sands and rubies, sapphires and emeralds, which increased by $280.1 million (€255 million), while the other sectors of the economy, namely the aluminium and energy manufacturing industry, recorded decreases in sales by $140.7 million (€127.6 million) and $8.8 million (€8 million), respectively.
Overall, Mozambique’s exports of goods in the first quarter totalled more than $1.699 billion (€1.542 billion), an increase of $4.4 million (€4 million) when compared to the same period in 2022.
Excluding Major Projects, agricultural products represented revenues of $103.9 million (€94.3 million) for Mozambique, down $28.7 million (€26 million) compared to 2022, “with emphasis on vegetables, tobacco, cotton, sugar and bananas”.
Coal exports represented the main cash inflow from Mozambican exports in the first quarter, at $460.9 million (€418.2 million), still a 35.5% drop compared to the same period in 2022, followed by natural gas, which yielded $341 million (€309.5 million), a year-on-year increase of 70.1%, according to the report.
Heavy sands, on the other hand, returned $120.1 million (€108.9 million) in revenue due to an increase in the volume exported by around 11%, while the price fell by 9%.
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