Mozambican cotton revival creates logistics opportunities

Opportunities to provide logistics support to Mozambique’s cotton and textile industries are being created by a government programme to support the industries. One of the first successes is expected to be a textile factory at Riopele about 30 kilometres north of Maputo, which is being reopened in order to sustain agricultural jobs and create employment for around 200 textile workers made redundant by the closure of the plant. By reviving the textile sector and creating a sustainable market for locally grown cotton, the Mozambican government hopes to create as many as 100 000 jobs through the value chain. A programme is in place to improve the efficiency of small-scale cotton farmers. Cotton accounts for 20% of Mozambican agricultural sales, and is the third-most important agricultural export after tobacco and sugar, according to Norberto Mahalambe, director of Mozambique’s IAM Cotton Institute. Increased local uptake of the cotton will see a shift in logistics patterns and needs, with textiles being exported to the region and globally rather than fibre to the East.