Mozambique: Fuel import bill down 1.4% in first quarter

Statistical data from the Bank of Mozambique compiled by Lusa show that fuel imports between January and March accounted for almost half of the US$517 million spent by the country on intermediate goods imports during the period. According to the central bank, fuel imports totalled US$239.6 million in the first three months of 2025. Diesel continued to account for the largest share of the country’s fuel import bill, with imports valued at US$164.9 million, followed by petrol at US$56.4 million and aviation fuel (jet fuel) at US$15.2 million.

The decline in fuel imports came at the start of fuel supply constraints in different parts of the country, linked to the conflict in the Middle East. In April and May, long queues formed at filling stations, some stations temporarily closed, and supply disruptions affected transport operators, businesses and consumers, problems that were also attributed to the conflict in the region. On Tuesday, the Mozambican Government said it was analysing the causes of a new wave of fuel shortages in several parts of the country, following weeks of relative normalisation after the supply crisis in April and May.

“We are still carrying out an analysis to understand what is actually happening and why what appears to be, or at least seems to be, the beginning of a second wave of shortages is being experienced,” Cabinet spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa said after the Government meeting in Maputo. Questioned by journalists, the spokesperson acknowledged that the Government was aware of the situation, which has re-emerged since last weekend, with some filling stations running out of fuel and closing, while long queues have formed at those that remain operational. He said the Government was gathering information to determine the causes of the problem.

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Long queues have again been reported for several days at some filling stations, particularly in the city of Matola, Maputo Province, and in the capital, following a period of relative calm after the previous crisis. In March, the Government explained that around 80% of the fuel imported by Mozambique originated in the Middle East and passed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s main routes for transporting crude oil and petroleum products. At the same time, the central bank has acknowledged that some companies in the fuel sector have struggled to access foreign currency to finance imports because of financial constraints.

Following the latest meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee on 29 July, Bank of Mozambique Governor Rogério Zandamela said the foreign exchange market had experienced “greater liquidity” during the first half of the year, supported by the extractive industry, with high levels of foreign currency purchases and sales. “During the same period, banks’ foreign currency sales to their customers increased by US$356 million (€308.5 million) to a total of US$4.16 billion (€3.605 billion), with the fuel sector accounting for 50% of the foreign currency sold to the largest buyers in the foreign exchange market,” Zandamela said.

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