[Dataset] Trade and Regional Integration in Malawi: FY2019/20

Malawian exports have been growing slower than imports during the period from 2015 to 2018. This has not led to a significant deterioration in gross official foreign exchange reserves supported by the persistent depreciation of the MWK. The slower growth in exports has led to a minor deterioration of Malawi’s current account balance. Malawi is still dependent on agriculture-based exports which are also its top traded goods with its neighbours in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, Malawi is highly integrated in both COMESA and SADC but its trade is unbalanced due to the growing merchandise trade deficit in both regions. This suggests that there is significant room to increase Malawi’s exports to both regions and Malawi might want to rebalance its trade towards greater reliance on COMESA in order to reduce its overreliance on SADC.