Mozambique Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in mozambique, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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As of January 2023, Mozambique had 6.92 million internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 20.7% of the total population.  While the number of internet users is still relatively small compared to other countries, the growth is significant, driven largely by the widespread adoption of low-cost smartphones.
In 2017, the government took a crucial step in developing the country’s digital economy by approving the Electronic Transactions Law, which provides the legal framework for e-commerce and the digital marketplace.

Legal & Regulatory

The e-commerce industry in Mozambique is still in its early stages, although it has been bolstered by mobile phone banking platforms like eMola and mPesa. Limited access to credit and debit cards among the population means that many Mozambicans are unable to shop online, resulting in few options for digital retail.
The Bank of Mozambique, the country’s central bank, is the primary regulator for e-commerce payments and has been working with commercial banks since 2018 to establish a national online payment system. However, progress has been slow, with frequent delays hindering the growth of the sector. This slow development has restricted the expansion of e-commerce, as local businesses face challenges in selling products online.
Despite these challenges, market trends indicate a rise in cross-border sales, driven by the growing middle class looking for travel and shopping opportunities beyond Mozambique’s borders. On the domestic front, however, sales have remained stagnant, largely due to inadequate supporting infrastructure.

Consumer Behavior

Mozambique’s underdeveloped infrastructure presents a significant challenge for e-commerce businesses, but many small enterprises have adapted by using social media platforms—especially Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—to target specific groups or individuals. While few local companies engage in comprehensive online advertising, most digital marketing efforts consist of banner ads on websites and social media pages. A small number of companies have also begun utilizing YouTube as a platform to reach a broader customer base.
True online payment systems remain underdeveloped, with most consumers relying on mobile money transfer solutions such as M-PESA (Vodacom), mKesh (Tmcel), and e-Mola (Movitel) to make purchases. 

The Central Bank of Mozambique has recently advocated for greater interoperability between these mobile payment platforms and is working on regulatory frameworks to facilitate smoother online transactions.
Despite these challenges, some pioneering businesses are beginning to change consumer habits and drive online sales. Companies like Compras and Xava, which offer electronics, are early examples of local e-commerce success stories. As the middle class continues to grow, online sales are expected to increase in the coming years, driven by improvements in infrastructure and digital payment systems.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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