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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General Overview

There were 6.92 million internet users in Mozambique in January 2023. Mozambique’s internet penetration rate stood at 20.7 percent of the total population at the start of 2023. Kepios analysis indicates that internet users in Mozambique increased by 848 thousand (+14.0 percent) between 2022 and 2023. Though the number is small in comparison to other countries, it is growing rapidly thanks to the spread of low-cost smart phones. In 2017, the government approved The Electronic Transactions Law, providing the legal framework for developing e-commerce.

Legal and Regulatory

The e-commerce industry in Mozambique is in its infancy. There are few options available, as many Mozambicans do not have access to credit or debit cards and therefore cannot shop online.

The Bank of Mozambique (or Central Bank) is the leading regulator for e-commerce payments. It is working with commercial banks to establish a national online payment system that will allow local companies to sell products online. This process started in 2018 and has consistently been delayed, severely limiting the advancement of the e-commerce industry.

Market trends point to an increase in cross-border sales as the middle class starts to look outwards for travel and shopping opportunities. Domestic sales have been stagnant due to lack of supporting infrastructure.

Consumer Behavior

Though the country’s underdeveloped infrastructure is a major barrier to access for e-commerce businesses, small enterprises commonly use social media platforms – particularly Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp – to reach targeted groups or individuals. Few local companies advertise online. The bulk of the advertising that is done online consists of banners on websites and social media pages. Some companies have started using YouTube as a platform to reach customers.

True online payment systems remain underdeveloped and unimplemented. Most consumers bridge that gap with mobile money transfer solutions like M-PESA (Vodacom), mKesh (Tmcel), and e-Mola (Movitel). The Central Bank has recently encouraged interoperability of these payment platforms, and it is developing regulations to further facilitate online payments. Some pioneering enterprises are changing consumer habits and making sales online. Examples include Compras and Xava, which offer electronics. Online sales are expected to grow along with the emerging middle class over the coming years.

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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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