Agricultural products trade
Malawi-grown agricultural products for buyers worldwide
Sycamore Agritech Limited is based in Lilongwe, Malawi. Drawing on our own farms and a network of local growers, we source and supply Malawi-grown agricultural products to customers at home and abroad: pulses, oilseeds, nuts, grains, spices and specialty products. From sourcing, grading and packing to export documents and transport, we take care of the Malawi end.
Why buy from us
A reliable partner on the ground in Malawi
Buying farm produce from thousands of kilometres away, the worries are the same everywhere: goods that do not match the sample, missing paperwork and late shipments. We are at the origin, and we solve those problems for you.
Grown in Malawi, supplied at origin
Our supply comes from our own farms and from Malawian growers we work with season after season; every lot is recorded with its origin, batch and supplier.
Every lot checked before it ships
Lots are sampled and checked against the contract: moisture, foreign matter and grading. For groundnuts and similar products we provide aflatoxin test reports from an accredited laboratory. We can also arrange SGS pre-shipment inspection.
Export paperwork done by us
Export licence, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, customs declaration and the Reserve Bank export declaration are all completed on the Malawi side, so you receive one complete set of documents.
Preferential market access
As goods of Malawian origin from a least-developed country, our products enter China tariff-free and the European Union and United Kingdom duty-free and quota-free, with SADC, COMESA and AfCFTA preferences within Africa.
Product catalogue
Malawi agricultural products we can supply
These are the products we regularly source and supply. Varieties, specifications, grades, packing and minimum quantities are quoted to your requirements, and we welcome enquiries for other Malawi-grown products too.
Pulses
- Pigeon peasMalawi's main export pulse: whole dry pigeon peas (tur), bought regularly by processors in India and South Asia.Aug–Dec
- GroundnutsCG7 and Chalimbana varieties; shelled kernels graded to your specification, with aflatoxin test reports available.Jun–Dec
- SoybeansNon-GMO soybeans for crushing, feed and food processing; exports require a government licence, which we confirm before taking an order.May–Sep
- Dry beansRed kidney beans, sugar beans and other dry beans.Apr–Oct
- CowpeasDried cowpeas for food markets in the region and overseas.May–Sep
Oilseeds & nuts
- Sesame seedNatural whitish sesame, cleaned and bagged, for oil and food use.Jun–Oct
- Sunflower seedOil-type sunflower seed for crushing.Jun–Oct
- Macadamia nutsNut-in-shell and kernels, graded to the international kernel styles.May–Dec
- Cotton lintGinned cotton lint for spinning mills.Jul–Dec
Grains
- RiceKilombero long-grain aromatic rice and other Malawian varieties.May–Oct
- SorghumFrom our own farms and partner growers, for brewing, food and feed.May–Sep
- MaizeWhite non-GMO maize; exports depend on seasonal government rules, confirmed at the time of order.Jun–Sep
Spices & specialty
- Bird's-eye chilliesMalawi's well-known dried African bird's-eye (peri-peri) chillies, high in pungency.Jun–Dec
- PaprikaDried paprika pods and powder for spice and food processing.Jun–Dec
- CoffeeWashed Arabica green beans from Malawi's northern highlands.Jul–Dec
- TeaCTC black tea from the estates of southern Malawi, in standard grades.Year-round
Other products
- SugarMalawian cane sugar, subject to export permits and available allocations.Year-round
- HoneyNatural honey from the miombo woodlands, in smaller contract lots.Dec–Mar
- CassavaDried cassava chips and cassava flour.Year-round
- MangoSeasonal fresh mango and mango products.Oct–Jan
- VegetablesDry-season irrigated vegetables, mainly for regional markets.Jun–Oct
The months shown are the usual supply window for new-crop goods. Exports of some products (for example maize, soybeans and sugar) are subject to Malawi government licensing and seasonal restrictions, which we confirm before any contract is signed.
Availability
When each product is available
Rain-fed crops in Malawi are mostly harvested from April to June, so new-crop supply is at its best from June to September; tree crops follow their own cycles. The chart shows the harvest and new-crop supply periods of our main products.
- Harvest
- New-crop supply
A general guide based on Malawi's usual seasons; timing varies by year and region. Sources: FEWS NET, FAO GIEWS and Malawian industry bodies.
How we work
From enquiry to delivery in six steps
We follow the usual practice of international commodity trade, and keep every step clear.
Enquiry
Tell us the product, specification, quantity, destination port and preferred Incoterm.
Offer & samples
We send an offer and a representative sample for your evaluation.
Contract & payment
We agree specification, packing, delivery time and payment terms, and sign the sales contract.
Sourcing, grading & packing
We source, clean, grade and pack the goods in Malawi to the contract.
Inspection & documents
Pre-shipment inspection, by SGS if you wish, then export licence, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and customs clearance.
Shipment & tracking
Goods travel overland to the port and are shipped; we track the consignment and send you the full document set.
Trade terms
We quote EXW Lilongwe, FCA/FOB Beira or Nacala, or CFR/CIF your destination port (Incoterms® 2020).
Payment
For new customers, usually an irrevocable letter of credit at sight; for repeat business, a telegraphic-transfer deposit with the balance against shipping documents. Terms are set in each contract.
Packing
25 kg or 50 kg woven PP bags or 1-tonne big bags; vacuum packing for kernels on request; shipped as full 20-foot container loads.
Minimum order
Usually one 20-foot container; smaller trial lots are possible for some products.
Samples
Representative samples can be couriered before you commit to a contract.
Inspection
We can arrange SGS pre-shipment inspection and loading supervision; moisture, foreign matter and aflatoxin results are reported by an accredited laboratory.
Logistics
From landlocked Malawi to ports worldwide
Malawi is landlocked: goods travel by road or rail to ports in Mozambique, Tanzania or South Africa. We choose the corridor that suits your destination, the season and the volume.
Nacala corridor
Rail from the Kanengo railhead in Lilongwe straight to the deep-water port of Nacala, about 1,000 km, with a road alternative. Well suited to full-container bulk cargo.
Beira corridor
About 950 km by road via Dedza and Tete to the port of Beira, one of Malawi's main gateways, with regular sailings to Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Dar es Salaam corridor
North through the Songwe border crossing, about 1,700 km, an alternative route for East Asia and the Gulf.
Air freight
Samples and small lots of perishable produce fly from Kamuzu International Airport, Lilongwe, with connections via Addis Ababa or Nairobi.
Transit times depend on the corridor, the season and sailing schedules; Durban is a further option. Every offer states the proposed route and the expected delivery time.
Export documents
Complete paperwork for smooth clearance
Every consignment ships with the documents below, prepared to the requirements of the destination country and the letter of credit.
- Phytosanitary certificateIssued after inspection by Malawi's plant protection authority, the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS).
- Certificate of originIssued by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI); SADC and COMESA preferential certificates by the Malawi Revenue Authority.
- Quality and test reportsGrade, moisture, foreign-matter and aflatoxin reports from an accredited laboratory or SGS.
- Fumigation certificateContainer or stack fumigation with a certificate, where the destination country requires it.
- Commercial invoice and packing listMatching the contract, with HS codes, net and gross weights, bag counts and lot numbers.
- Transport documentsOcean bill of lading or road consignment note; the export licence and customs declaration are handled by us in Malawi.
Who we supply
For importers, processors and traders
Whether you are buying from Africa for the first time or looking for a dependable second source, we are happy to start with a trial order.
- Agricultural importers and distributors
- Food, oil and nut processors
- Feed mills and breweries
- International trading houses
- Wholesalers in regional African markets
FAQ
Importing from Malawi: common questions
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
Usually one 20-foot container. For some products we accept smaller trial lots; just ask.
Can you send samples first?
Yes. Before any contract we can courier a representative sample, and the shipment is supplied to the agreed specification.
Which payment terms do you accept?
New customers usually pay by irrevocable letter of credit at sight; established customers by telegraphic-transfer deposit with the balance against shipping documents.
What is the lead time from order to shipment?
It depends on the product, the season and the corridor. Once the deposit or letter of credit is in place we confirm a schedule for sourcing, inspection, documents and inland transport, and every offer states the expected delivery time.
Can you arrange SGS inspection?
Yes. We can arrange pre-shipment inspection and loading supervision by SGS, with the cost shown in the offer.
Are there export restrictions on agricultural products in Malawi?
Yes. Some products, such as maize, soybeans and sugar, need a government export licence and may face seasonal restrictions. We confirm the current rules before signing and only commit to goods that can legally be exported.
Tell us what you want to buy
Send us the product, quantity and destination port, and we will reply with an offer and the supply season.
Contact
Tell us what you need
Whether you're buying wheat, sorghum or other Malawi produce, discussing seed production or booking machinery, send us a message or call us, and we'll get back to you quickly.
- Address
- Chitipi, Lilongwe, Malawi