• President Daniel Chapo inaugurated a $30 million sesame hulling and processing plant in Sofala Province, built by Singapore-based Robust International.

• The facility can process 20,000 tonnes per year and will supply a market outlet for about 35,000 smallholder farmers.

• Mozambique’s sesame exports more than doubled between 2020 and 2024, while export revenues more than tripled.

Mozambique ranks as Africa’s fifth-largest sesame exporter, behind Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Ethiopia. While the raw product is mostly shipped in unprocessed form, the government continues to encourage private-sector investment in value-addition.

President Daniel Chapo inaugurated on November 13 a sesame hulling and processing plant in Nhamayabuè in Sofala Province, according to local outlet Club of Mozambique. The facility marks a new step in the country’s push to strengthen downstream activities.

The plant cost an estimated $30 million and was developed by Robust International, a Singapore-based company active in agricultural commodity trading and processing.

The installation can process 20,000 tonnes of sesame seeds per year. The company plans to source its raw material locally, creating a direct market outlet for roughly 35,000 smallholder farmers in the region.

Sofala Province stands among Mozambique’s leading production zones. It accounts for about 25% of national sesame output, which reaches nearly 200,000 tonnes per year. Although Robust International will focus its production on exports, the investment is expected to reinforce the strong growth momentum observed in recent years.

Trade Map data show that Mozambique’s sesame shipments more than doubled, rising from 53,043 tonnes in 2020 to 114,000 tonnes in 2024. Export revenues also rose sharply, jumping from $69.2 million to $223.2 million over the same period.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum