Mozambique deepens agri-processing with new $30 million sesame facility
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Mozambique has launched a $30 million sesame hulling plant in Sofala province to expand domestic value addition and cut raw-seed exports. The unit, developed by Robust International and inaugurated on November 13, adds 20,000 tonnes of annual processing capacity and secures offtake for roughly 35,000 smallholder farmers in a province that produces a quarter of national sesame output.
The country exported 114,000 tonnes of sesame in 2024, more than double 2020 levels, with earnings rising from $69.2 million to $223.2 million over the period. By shifting to hulled and processed categories that command higher prices, the new plant is expected to lift export margins, strengthen quality consistency, and reduce exposure to raw-commodity price swings.
The project aligns with government efforts to expand agro-processing and retain more value domestically. Its scale, equal to nearly 10 percent of national output, provides a stable industrial buyer base for farmers while broadening Mozambique’s agri-export profile. Long-term revenue gains will depend on global sesame prices, phytosanitary compliance, and the facility’s ability to maintain throughput and quality standards.
