Arabfields, Maleeka Kassou, East, West and Central Africa Agriculture Correspondent — Mozambique is stepping up efforts to strengthen domestic food production with the construction of a new pasta manufacturing plant in Nacala, in the northern province of Nampula. The project, led by Merec Industries, is expected to expand local processing capacity, create employment and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food products.
The facility will be Merec’s first pasta production site in northern Mozambique, completing the company’s industrial presence across the country’s three main regions. The investment comes alongside an expansion of its existing Machava facility in the south, with the combined developments expected to increase production capacity beyond national demand.
For households in northern Mozambique, the new factory could bring an important change to the supply chain. Rather than relying as heavily on products transported from the country’s southern and central regions or imported from abroad, consumers could benefit from locally manufactured pasta distributed closer to their communities.
Merec’s executive board member, Luís Aveleira, said pasta had become part of the basic food basket for Mozambican households. He stressed that expanding domestic manufacturing would help the country meet its own consumption needs while creating opportunities to export surplus production.
The project is also expected to generate direct and indirect employment, develop local technical skills and create business opportunities for companies involved in transport, logistics, distribution and retail.
Nacala’s location gives the investment an additional commercial advantage. The city is home to a deep-water port and serves as a gateway to the Nacala Logistics Corridor, which connects Mozambique with neighbouring Malawi and Zambia. This infrastructure could help Merec distribute products more efficiently across national borders once production exceeds domestic requirements.
The expansion comes at a time when Mozambique is seeking to strengthen its food manufacturing industry and reduce exposure to international supply disruptions. Trade figures underline the potential market opportunity. Imports of prepared pasta reached approximately 31,000 tonnes in 2025, valued at around $17 million, compared with 8,200 tonnes and $3.6 million in 2024.
Imports of uncooked pasta also increased, reaching approximately 7,900 tonnes in 2025, against 2,400 tonnes a year earlier. These figures highlight the growing market for pasta products and the opportunity for domestic manufacturers to replace part of the imported supply.
Merec currently operates industrial facilities in different parts of Mozambique, producing wheat and maize flour, pasta, bread and animal feed. Its operating performance has improved since joining Invictus Investment in January 2025, encouraging a broader expansion strategy.
The company is also attracting new investment. In October 2026, Invictus Investment and Helios Investment Partners announced an agreement under which Helios Fund V could acquire up to a 49 per cent stake in Merec’s holding company. Invictus is expected to retain majority ownership, with the transaction scheduled to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Nacala facility could become an important part of Mozambique’s efforts to expand domestic food manufacturing. If the new plant and the Machava expansion deliver the expected capacity increases, Merec could strengthen its position in the national market and gradually develop additional export opportunities.
The company’s longer-term ambition is to double its existing pasta production capacity by 2028. Its two operating pasta factories have a combined capacity of approximately 15 tonnes per hour, providing a baseline for the planned expansion.
However, the success of the project will depend on several factors, including access to reliable wheat supplies, energy costs, transport infrastructure and the ability to offer competitive prices to consumers. The company has not yet disclosed the investment cost, the new factory’s production capacity or its expected completion date.
For Mozambique, the significance of the project goes beyond the construction of another industrial facility. It represents an effort to retain more value within the domestic economy, support local employment and strengthen food supply chains.
If production targets are achieved, Nacala could gradually emerge as an important manufacturing and distribution centre, serving both northern Mozambique and neighbouring regional markets.
