In this third article of the series, Sebastiane Ebatamehi from The African Exponent provides a comprehensive overview of Mozambique, ranked 8th among the top 10 poultry producing countries in Africa in 2025.
Mozambique has distinguished itself as one of Africa’s fastest-growing poultry producers, boasting a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2013 to 2024. This growth positions the country as a notable contender in the African poultry market.
According to IndexBox’s 2024 market data, Mozambique has seen a sharper rise in poultry output compared to some of the larger continental producers, even though its overall production volume is still less than that of industry giants like Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.
In the 2023/2024 period, Mozambique produced approximately 152,784 metric tons of chicken meat, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the country achieved record egg production levels, totaling 28,667,207 dozen eggs, highlighting a surge in domestic demand and enhanced capacity within the poultry farming and processing industries.
Enhancing the Agri-food Value Chain
The growth of Mozambique’s poultry sector can largely be credited to significant public-private investments, supportive policy initiatives, and the development of commercial poultry operations. A pivotal development is the recent $33 million investment from the African Development Bank through the PROCAVA program. This initiative aims to bolster the agri-food value chain, particularly in the poultry sector.
This funding is targeted at enhancing infrastructure, including the establishment of feed mills, hatcheries, and processing facilities, while also aiding small-scale producers in becoming part of more efficient value chains.
Challenges to Growth
Nonetheless, Mozambique’s poultry sector faces numerous challenges that threaten to hinder its progress. In early 2025, political unrest following the elections disrupted supply chains, limited access to feed and incubators, and resulted in widespread economic losses estimated at around $300 million. These disruptions not only halted many operations but also underscored the industry’s vulnerability to political instability.
Moreover, persistent challenges such as rising feed costs, difficulties in disease control, and deficiencies in cold chain and logistics infrastructure remain significant hurdles. Analysts stress that without coherent policy frameworks and investments in bio-security, the current achievements could be jeopardized.
As Mozambique strives for growth, it remains to be seen whether the country can climb higher in the poultry production rankings by 2028.
In the next article, we will focus on the poultry sector in Kenya.
