Malawi is a partner of Ukraine in Southern Africa, offering opportunities for developing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, food security, agricultural technologies and healthcare.
The agricultural orientation of Malawi's economy creates opportunities for Ukrainian businesses supplying agricultural commodities, machinery, food-processing equipment, pharmaceuticals and other industrial products.
Bilateral Trade in Goods
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, bilateral trade in goods between Ukraine and Malawi amounted to USD 9.14 million in 2025, consisting entirely of imports from Malawi, with no Ukrainian exports recorded during that year.
In January–September 2026, bilateral trade in goods reached USD 5.97 million, including Ukrainian exports of USD 1.11 million and imports from Malawi of USD 4.87 million. Ukraine recorded a trade deficit of USD 3.76 million.
The resumption of Ukrainian exports in 2026 marked a positive development in bilateral trade relations.
Main Export and Import Products
Vegetable oils, primarily within the sunflower, safflower and cottonseed oil category, were the leading Ukrainian export to Malawi in January–September 2026, valued at approximately USD 966 thousand, or 87% of total Ukrainian exports.
Other Ukrainian exports included agricultural equipment, valued at approximately USD 97 thousand, and X-ray equipment, valued at approximately USD 42 thousand.
Imports from Malawi were almost entirely concentrated in unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco waste, valued at approximately USD 4.87 million, accounting for more than 99% of total imports.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
Ukraine and Malawi have opportunities to expand cooperation in agriculture and food security, agricultural machinery and technologies, food processing, irrigation and agricultural infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and veterinary products.
Further opportunities exist in the supply of agricultural inputs, the development of food-processing capacities and the exchange of agricultural expertise and technologies.
Strengthening direct business contacts, facilitating market access and identifying mutually beneficial trade and investment projects could contribute to the further development of bilateral economic relations.
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