The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has maintained pump prices for petrol and diesel while increasing the cost of kerosene, effective September 12. According to Malawi Nation, the Mera board attributed the kerosene price hike to ongoing supply chain pressures in international petroleum markets and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East.
In other news, the Blantyre Water Board (BWB) is facing a potential power disconnection by Escom scheduled for September 14 over unpaid electricity bills, despite reportedly receiving a secret K24 billion government bailout. Malawi Nation reports that the High Court recently halted the enforcement of a separate K2.5 billion payment to a BWB supplier. Following these financial struggles, the Consumers Association of Malawi has publicly demanded structural reforms at the water utility.
Meanwhile, Malawi's nominal gross domestic product (GDP) reached K19.67 trillion in 2024, more than tripling from K6.53 trillion in 2017, according to recent National Statistical Office data published by Nation Online. The report indicates that the GDP expansion was primarily driven by strong household consumption and a recovery in gross capital formation, though imports continue to grow at a faster rate than exports.
Update: Following the close of the tobacco marketing season, the Tobacco Commission released new data showing that Limbe Floors in Blantyre offered the highest average prices to farmers. Nation Online reports that Limbe recorded an average price of $2.15 per kilogramme, beating the national average of $1.98. The country sold a total of 143.7 million kilogrammes of tobacco this season, generating $284.9 million in overall revenue.