Mozambican tobacco exports fell significantly in the first nine months of 2023. According to information from the Bank of Mozambique, the value of exports fell by 25%, to 45.1 million euros, a notable decrease compared with the same period of the previous year, which recorded 66.4 million dollars (approximately 60.6 million euros).

This decline in tobacco exports is reflected in the country's economic performance, given the importance of this sector. Mozambique has a significant area devoted to tobacco cultivation, the eighth largest in the world and the third in the African region, at 91,469 hectares. This position is surpassed in the region only by Zimbabwe and Malawi, making Mozambique one of the main producers on the African continent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) report, released in 2023, underlines the relevance of tobacco cultivation in Mozambique, despite growing criticism and policy measures against the mass use of this plant, once classed as medicinal. Brazil and Mozambique, both Portuguese-speaking countries, are mentioned in the WHO report listing the 50 countries with the largest areas of tobacco cultivation. This reduction in tobacco exports could prompt reflection on the economic dependence on this sector and the need for agricultural and economic diversification in Mozambique.