ADMARC Limited has successfully exported 123,357 metric tons of cotton wool lint to Switzerland for the 2024/2025 growing season. This follows an earlier shipment of 443,113 metric tons, bringing the total value of the two consignments to approximately $80,000.
These exports mark a significant step in revitalising Malawi’s cotton sector and boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Lovemore Mwantisi, Division Manager at Ngabu Ginnery, credited the achievement to ADMARC’s strong working relationship with farmers. “We are able to purchase all the cotton produced by our growers and this partnership is key to our success,” he said.
Malawi’s cotton industry has faced serious setbacks in recent years. At its peak in 2012, cotton production reached 100,000 metric tons.
However, due to climate shocks, low global prices and limited access to quality inputs, production dropped drastically to under 10,000 metric tons by 2023. As a result, cotton export earnings shrank by 90 percent from $62 million in 2012 to just $4.2 million last year.
Despite these challenges, the recent exports signal a turning point. The Cotton Council of Malawi has unveiled a five-year strategic plan aiming to return annual production to 100,000 metric tons. If successful, the plan could generate $125 million in exports and create over 40,000 jobs.
This ambitious recovery program requires a K19.6 billion investment and will be backed by efforts to provide farmers with improved seeds and establish a structured market for pricing and sustainability.
Mwantisi acknowledged the continued high demand for cotton both locally and internationally but noted that Malawi is struggling to meet it due to harsh weather conditions, especially drought.
Cotton Classifier Joseph Banda said strict quality control measures are in place to ensure that Malawi’s cotton meets global standards.
“We are very serious about quality, and that’s what helps our farmers fetch better prices on the market,” said Banda.
Malawi currently needs over 50,000 metric tons of cotton annually for local textile industries alone, while international buyers demand over 200,000 metric tons, far more than what the country can supply.
Even byproducts such as cotton seeds are not wasted, they are processed into cotton cake for animal feed, adding further value to the crop.
