Malawi

Malawi Imports 2023

Complete list of Malawi's 155 import sources and 100+ product categories. Sourced from CEPII BACI.

$3.11B
Total imports (2023)
#157
Global import rank
155
Source countries
100+
Product categories tracked

Malawi imported $3.11 billion of merchandise goods in 2023, making it the world's #157 largest importer. Goods came from 155 source countries, with the top ten sources providing 74.6% of total import value. The leading import was preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals, valued at $541.94 million 17.4% of total imports.

The two tables below list every source country and the most-traded product categories at the HS6 (Harmonized System 6-digit) level. All values come from the CEPII BACI database, which reconciles UN Comtrade declarations to produce cleaner bilateral flows.

All import sources

155 countries and territories. Click for the full bilateral page.

#Source2023 import value% of total
1South Africa$514.66M16.55%
2China$489.80M15.75%
3United Arab Emirates$399.53M12.84%
4United Rep. of Tanzania$188.63M6.06%
5India$182.83M5.88%
6Zambia$176.21M5.66%
7Mozambique$110.66M3.56%
8United Kingdom$94.89M3.05%
9Kuwait$89.68M2.88%
10Japan$72.11M2.32%
11Saudi Arabia$67.62M2.17%
12Kenya$58.59M1.88%
13Indonesia$51.89M1.67%
14Belgium$49.70M1.60%
15USA$49.06M1.58%
16Switzerland$45.29M1.46%
17Malaysia$43.39M1.39%
18Russian Federation$37.48M1.20%
19Germany$35.62M1.15%
20Egypt$34.86M1.12%
21Rep. of Korea$28.41M0.91%
22Zimbabwe$26.41M0.85%
23China, Hong Kong SAR$20.10M0.65%
24Netherlands$19.53M0.63%
25Oman$18.65M0.60%
26Viet Nam$16.52M0.53%
27France$15.61M0.50%
28Thailand$12.67M0.41%
29Canada$12.51M0.40%
30Italy$11.86M0.38%
31Pakistan$11.43M0.37%
32Denmark$10.18M0.33%
33Poland$10.05M0.32%
34Türkiye$8.68M0.28%
35Spain$6.88M0.22%
36Eswatini$6.45M0.21%
37Brazil$4.63M0.15%
38Finland$4.46M0.14%
39Singapore$4.27M0.14%
40Botswana$4.23M0.14%
41Uganda$4.21M0.14%
42Jordan$4.18M0.13%
43Norway$3.71M0.12%
44Sweden$3.66M0.12%
45Bahrain$3.36M0.11%
46Australia$3.36M0.11%
47Ireland$3.29M0.11%
48Namibia$2.93M0.09%
49Portugal$2.87M0.09%
50Mauritius$2.25M0.07%
51Ghana$2.21M0.07%
52Czechia$2.20M0.07%
53Bulgaria$2.08M0.07%
54Lithuania$2.07M0.07%
55Hungary$1.84M0.06%
56Slovakia$1.79M0.06%
57Other Asia, nes$1.64M0.05%
58Austria$1.62M0.05%
59Madagascar$1.54M0.05%
60Lebanon$1.23M0.04%
61Ethiopia$1.03M0.03%
62Qatar$986,6890.03%
63Rwanda$983,1370.03%
64Israel$972,4390.03%
65Luxembourg$911,6400.03%
66Sri Lanka$870,2080.03%
67Mexico$816,1960.03%
68Greece$799,4050.03%
69Croatia$676,3360.02%
70Colombia$485,1410.02%
71Philippines$407,0380.01%
72Ukraine$401,5910.01%
73Seychelles$340,8790.01%
74Nigeria$324,6660.01%
75Estonia$205,8470.01%
76Argentina$205,5720.01%
77Romania$183,1100.01%
78Gambia$178,3250.01%
79New Zealand$155,4660.00%
80Morocco$130,2650.00%
81Niger$123,2300.00%
82Chile$118,7590.00%
83Georgia$108,8480.00%
84Latvia$101,7450.00%
85Iran$95,1810.00%
86Cambodia$88,8050.00%
87Sudan$79,0690.00%
88Suriname$63,4720.00%
89Cameroon$54,6210.00%
90Bhutan$46,9940.00%
91Côte d'Ivoire$46,9500.00%
92Togo$45,1130.00%
93Gabon$34,4600.00%
94Barbados$33,4690.00%
95Ecuador$32,0700.00%
96Sao Tome and Principe$31,6230.00%
97Tokelau$27,4500.00%
98Dem. People's Rep. of Korea$24,3720.00%
99Venezuela$23,6800.00%
100Tunisia$23,6160.00%
101Cyprus$22,4960.00%
102Sierra Leone$20,5870.00%
103Serbia$20,3740.00%
104Andorra$20,0360.00%
105Jamaica$19,7090.00%
106Slovenia$18,9790.00%
107Bangladesh$17,8860.00%
108Montserrat$16,7180.00%
109North Macedonia$13,8530.00%
110Dem. Rep. of the Congo$13,0740.00%
111Brunei Darussalam$11,4540.00%
112Panama$10,7570.00%
113Congo$8,1870.00%
114Costa Rica$7,3750.00%
115Turks and Caicos Isds$6,5770.00%
116Dominican Rep.$6,0390.00%
117Anguilla$5,7590.00%
118Myanmar$5,1530.00%
119Bosnia Herzegovina$5,0770.00%
120Fiji$4,4780.00%
121Belize$3,5870.00%
122Guinea$3,5240.00%
123Angola$3,3860.00%
124Paraguay$3,3010.00%
125Belarus$2,5000.00%
126Rep. of Moldova$2,1650.00%
127Senegal$1,7600.00%
128Nauru$1,6140.00%
129Nicaragua$1,5970.00%
130China, Macao SAR$1,4790.00%
131Peru$1,4580.00%
132Haiti$1,3740.00%
133Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$1,3200.00%
134Trinidad and Tobago$1,2670.00%
135Mauritania$1,2630.00%
136Iceland$1,0920.00%
137Nepal$1,0670.00%
138Curaçao$1,0300.00%
139Lesotho$8920.00%
140Lao People's Dem. Rep.$7430.00%
141Cocos Isds$6000.00%
142El Salvador$4850.00%
143Antigua and Barbuda$4520.00%
144Timor-Leste$3970.00%
145Syria$3970.00%
146Cuba$3830.00%
147Falkland Isds (Malvinas)$3010.00%
148Azerbaijan$2540.00%
149Cook Isds$2350.00%
150Uruguay$1520.00%
151American Samoa$1290.00%
152Guatemala$1290.00%
153Benin$1000.00%
154Malta$700.00%
155Guinea-Bissau$590.00%

Top import products (HS6)

100 product categories ranked by 2023 import value.

#HS6ProductValue% of total
1271000Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils$541.94M17.42%
2310210Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solution$144.54M4.65%
3310520Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: containing the three fertilizing elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium$135.84M4.37%
4490700Unused postage, revenue or similar stamps of current or new issue in the country in which they have, or will have, a recognised face value: stamp-impressed paper: cheque forms: banknotes, stock, share or bond certificates and the like of similar title$110.29M3.55%
5630900Clothing: worn, and other worn articles$80.68M2.59%
6300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale$69.47M2.23%
7300220Vaccines: for human medicine$62.43M2.01%
8240110Tobacco, (not stemmed or stripped)$33.74M1.08%
9240120Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped$33.66M1.08%
10151190Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified$31.62M1.02%
11340120Soap: in forms n.e.c. in item no. 3401.11$30.05M0.97%
12721049Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not corrugated), plated or coated with zinc (not electrolytically)$29.38M0.94%
13390210Propylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary forms$27.99M0.90%
14870421Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1$27.41M0.88%
15252329Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured$26.68M0.86%
16100119Cereals: wheat and meslin, durum wheat, other than seed$21.38M0.69%
17382200Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material$21.01M0.68%
18340220Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale$19.90M0.64%
19380891Insecticides: other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter: put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles$19.08M0.61%
20390110Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94$18.78M0.60%
21870323Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc$18.71M0.60%
22390120Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more$17.61M0.57%
23100199Cereals: wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat, other than seed$15.81M0.51%
24847480Machines: for agglomerating, shaping or moulding solid mineral fuels, ceramic paste, unhardened cements, plastering materials in powder or paste form, machines for forming foundry moulds of sand$14.31M0.46%
25310260Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, double salts and mixtures of calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate$14.09M0.45%
26310221Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate$13.39M0.43%
27481910Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard$13.27M0.43%
28250100Salt (including table salt and denatured salt): pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution: sea water$13.20M0.42%
29870322Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc$12.88M0.41%
30310390Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: phosphatic, n.e.c. in heading no. 3103$12.73M0.41%
31252310Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)$12.64M0.41%
32151110Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified$12.43M0.40%
33851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks$12.20M0.39%
34870333Vehicles: with only compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity over 2500cc$12.03M0.39%
35860210Rail locomotives: diesel-electric powered$11.94M0.38%
36721420Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling$11.81M0.38%
37690740Finishing ceramics$11.68M0.38%
38380893Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators: other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter: put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles$11.59M0.37%
39847130Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display$11.44M0.37%
40851762Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus$11.37M0.37%
41390410Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers: poly(vinyl chloride), not mixed with any other substances, in primary forms$10.18M0.33%
42310530Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)$10.17M0.33%
43100590Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed$10.16M0.33%
44854449Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectors$10.12M0.33%
45340119Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use$9.63M0.31%
46901890Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in heading no. 9018$9.33M0.30%
47870423Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a g.v.w. exceeding 20 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1$9.15M0.29%
48330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations)$8.53M0.27%
49871120Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars$8.52M0.27%
50490199Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91$8.30M0.27%
51961900Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material$8.22M0.26%
52401120Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorries$8.21M0.26%
53401110Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)$8.03M0.26%
54847710Machinery: injection-moulding machines, for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials$7.99M0.26%
55701090Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the conveyance or packing of goods$7.88M0.25%
56721041Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, corrugated, plated or coated with zinc (not electrolytically)$7.57M0.24%
57210690Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10$7.53M0.24%
58847150Units of automatic data processing machines: processing units other than those of item no. 8471.41 or 8471.49, whether or not containing in the same housing one or two of the following types of unit: storage units, input units or output units$7.25M0.23%
59230990Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feeding$6.80M0.22%
60850440Electrical static converters$6.66M0.21%
61854460Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage exceeding 1000 volts$6.61M0.21%
62850433Transformers: n.e.c. in item no. 8504.2, having a power handling capacity exceeding 16kVA but not exceeding 500kVA$6.56M0.21%
63902214Apparatus based on the use of x-rays: including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, for medical, surgical or veterinary uses, not dental uses, excluding computed tomography apparatus$6.44M0.21%
64761490Aluminium: stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, (not electrically insulated), other than steel core$6.38M0.21%
65170490Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa$6.33M0.20%
66300660Pharmaceutical goods: chemical contraceptive preparations based on hormones, on other products of heading 2937 or on spermicides$6.29M0.20%
67310430Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: potassic, potassium sulphate$6.17M0.20%
68842959Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: n.e.c. in item no. 8429.50$6.12M0.20%
69340111Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products)$6.09M0.20%
70870332Vehicles: with only compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 2500cc$6.07M0.20%
71854140Electrical apparatus: photosensitive, including photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels, light-emitting diodes (LED)$5.73M0.18%
72840310Boilers: central heating boilers (excluding those of heading no. 8402)$5.67M0.18%
73271600Electrical energy$5.66M0.18%
74871200Bicycles and other cycles: including delivery tricycles, not motorised$5.54M0.18%
75850710Electric accumulators: lead-acid, of a kind used for starting piston engines, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)$5.50M0.18%
76390190Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, n.e.c. in heading no. 3901$5.42M0.17%
77330290Odoriferous substances and mixtures: used as raw materials in industries other than the food or drink industries$5.40M0.17%
78300230Vaccines: for veterinary medicine$5.35M0.17%
79480256Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803): printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weight 40-150g/m2, in sheets 435mm or less by 297mm or less (unfolded)$5.34M0.17%
80390230Propylene, other olefin polymers: propylene copolymers in primary forms$5.27M0.17%
81392190Plastics: plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, other than cellular$5.22M0.17%
82870899Vehicle parts and accessories: n.e.c. in heading no. 8708$5.21M0.17%
83330210Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industries$5.20M0.17%
84730890Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308$5.17M0.17%
85870422Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a g.v.w. exceeding 5 tonnes but not exceeding 20 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1$5.13M0.16%
86340290Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), including auxiliary washing preparations, not for retail sale$5.11M0.16%
87870120Tractors: road, for semi-trailers$4.99M0.16%
88730820Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, towers and lattice masts$4.95M0.16%
89390761Poly(ethylene terephthalate): in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higher$4.89M0.16%
90390130Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers$4.88M0.16%
91300211Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: malaria diagnostic test kits$4.81M0.15%
92392690Plastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39$4.77M0.15%
93271320Petroleum bitumen: obtained from bituminous minerals$4.72M0.15%
94210610Protein: concentrates and textured protein substances$4.68M0.15%
95220210Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured$4.62M0.15%
96310540Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate (monoammonium phosphate) and mixtures thereof with diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)$4.52M0.15%
97721070Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics$4.47M0.14%
98401410Rubber: vulcanised (other than hard rubber), sheath contraceptives$4.34M0.14%
99392330Plastics: carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles, for the conveyance or packing of goods$4.27M0.14%
100732690Iron or steel: articles n.e.c. in heading 7326$4.24M0.14%