Mozambique is moving to impose temporary restrictions on imports of sliced bread and certain ceramic products as the government steps up measures aimed at supporting domestic production.
The country's Import Advisory Commission (CCI) approved measures covering ceramic products under tariff headings 6904, 6907 and 6908 at a meeting last week.
The proposed mechanism will apply across the import chain, including importers, financial institutions, logistics operators, port and customs authorities and other parties involved in bringing ceramic products into the country.
It provides for a 20% preference margin for locally produced ceramic products over imports and will initially remain in force for 12 months, with the possibility of a further 12-month extension following an assessment of its impact.
The CCI has recommended that the relevant Ministerial Diploma be signed and subsequently published in Mozambique's official gazette.
The government said the mechanism was intended to support domestic ceramic production while ensuring product availability and competitive prices and reducing logistics costs associated with imports.
A separate temporary restriction on imports of sliced bread is expected to take effect during August.
Imports of sliced bread increased by about 70% between 2023 and 2025, rising from approximately 1.1 million kilograms to 1.9 million kilograms a year, according to information released following the CCI meeting.
The government said the measure was intended to provide temporary protection for domestic bread producers while encouraging increased local production. The impact of the restriction will be periodically reviewed.
The measures form part of Mozambique's broader import-control framework introduced under Decree 51/2025 of December 29, which provides for temporary quantitative restrictions on specified imported products.
South Africa is Mozambique's largest source of imported goods, accounting for 25% of the country's imports in 2024, according to Mozambique's National Institute of Statistics.
Mozambique imported goods worth $2.3 billion from South Africa during the year, ahead of China, which accounted for 16.2% of imports.
