Manufacturing Sector

About 85 percent of Malawi’s industrial activity comes from manufacturing. Manufacturing in Malawi is carried out by about 100 companies involved in agricultural processing, textiles, clothing and footwear production

The closure of borders during most of the first half of 2021 and part of the second half to contain the spread of COVID-19 disrupted the supply chains leading to suppressed production

The manufacturing sector is projected to tick up from current growth rate by 0.4 percent to grow by 4.7 percent in 2022.

Most of the traditional agricultural crops such as tobacco and tea are exported in a semi- processed state.

The sectoral contribution to GDP of the manufacturing sector over the past few years, with an estimation for 2021 and projections for 2022 and 2023

Sectoral contribution to GDP (%)

The annual percentage growth rate of the manufacturing sector over the past few years, with an estimation for 2021 and projections for 2022 and 2023

Annual percentage growth rate (%)

There are huge opportunities for investors to convert most of these agricultural products into high value finished products. Specific opportunities lie in:

Textile and Garment Manufacturing

Beverage's manufacturing

Light goods manufacturing (steel products, electrical fittings, plastics)

Pharmaceuticals manufacturing

Fertilizer production