Zambia Puts Half A Million Metric Tonnes of Maize To Export

Lusaka, August,2025 – ZAMBIA will be exporting half a million metric tonnes of from its abundant maize stocks, the Minister of Information has announced.

Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa announced that the 15^th Cabinet meeting had approved the Implementation of the 2025 Maize and Mealie Meal Export Programme.

He said the Programme will see Zambia export a surplus maize grain of about 501,620.61 Mt or its equivalent quantity of mealie meal to various destinations in the global market.

During the 2024/2025 farming season, the country produced an estimated 3.7 million Mt of maize grain and had a carry-over stock of 385,000 Mt. This implies that the total available stock for 2025/2026 stood at 4.040 million Mt.

The 2025/2026 National Food Balance Sheet estimates the total national requirements for maize grain (human consumption, industrial use and strategic reserves) at 3.5 million Mt per annum.

 

“In view of the surplus maize arising from the bumper harvest during the 2024/2025 farming season, Cabinet has approved the exportation of 63,883.61 Mt of maize grain, part of which is early maize, at 28,883.61 and maize held by the members of the Grain Traders Association of Zambia, amounting to 35,000 Mt and a total of 350,189.6 Mt of mealie meal, to some countries within the region,” said Mr. Mweetwa.

Zambian transporters are expected to be the lead transporter of this maize in the region.

“In terms of transportation of the maize and mealie meal to neighbouring countries, Cabinet resolved that Zambian truckers should benefit from the transportation business. Further, Cabinet emphasised that the Food Reserve Agency, should continue and expedite the buying of maize which is still lying out there with farmers country-wide. Cabinet indicated that the Export Programme will bring in the country, the much needed liquidity in the maize value chain and motivate farmers to expand production in subsequent seasons as the Country drives towards the 10 million Mt production target,” the Information Minister said.

Local farmers’ associations and Agribusinesses dealing in maize seed have been urging the Zambian Government to open the borders for maize exports so farmers can sell their extra maize to neighbouring countries.

Malawi, Congo DR and Zimbabwe are some of Zambia’s neighbours in dire need of an extra bag of maize.