Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha says the 2026/27 national budget will introduce targeted measures to discourage the export of raw agricultural commodities, as government pushes for more value addition to increase export earnings and ease foreign exchange shortages, according to Malawi Freedom Network. Malawi Freedom Network reports that Mwanamvekha cited unprocessed exports such as soybeans and pigeon peas as examples of low-value trade, and said the budget will prioritise incentives for agro-processing and export diversification, alongside disincentives aimed at shifting producers and traders toward processing and manufacturing.
At the launch of the World Bank’s latest Malawi Economic Monitor in Lilongwe, the Bank said the report finds Malawi’s exports have weakened and remain concentrated in tobacco, and it calls for reforms to stabilise the economy, improve trade efficiency, and unlock private investment, according to the World Bank. The World Bank said the report points to opportunities in agro-processing, including macadamia, soybeans, and groundnuts, but warns that policy inconsistencies, foreign exchange shortages, and high trade costs continue to hold back investment and job creation.