Zambia will import up to 200,000 mt of maize to cover a shortfall brought on by large-scale exports to its war-ravaged neighbour Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Reuters reported on Monday.
“The expected shortfall will have to be met with imports, initially from Malawi which has registered a reasonable surplus and whose prices are favourable to Zambian traders,” Reuters quoted a Zambian economist as saying.
The report said officials estimate that maize exports to DRC stand at about 50,000 mt so far this year, although maize smuggled across the border amounted to about 75,000 mt, a figure which is not reflected in the official maize production estimate of 700,000 mt per annum.
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