Mozambique spent $660.6 million on fuel imports in the first half of 2026, according to data from the Bank of Mozambique (BdM). The import bill surged 79.4% from the first to the second quarter, during a period marked by supply difficulties across several regions of the country and constraints in accessing foreign exchange to finance imports.

According to statistics from the central bank, cited by Lusa, fuel imports totalled $236.4 million between January and March, rising to $424.2 million between April and June.

In April and May, the country recorded long queues at fuel stations, temporary closures of some pumps, and supply disruptions, with consequences for transporters, businesses, and consumers. In the first half of the year, Mozambique imported nearly $1.2 billion in intermediate goods, of which fuels accounted for approximately 55%.

In response to market pressures, the government decided on 7 May to raise fuel prices. The price of diesel increased by 45.5%, while petrol rose by 12.1%. The decision was justified by the effects of the Middle East conflict on international energy markets.

Among imported products, diesel accounted for the largest share of the bill, with purchases from abroad valued at $455.6 million in the first half of the year. Petrol followed at $166.7 million, and aviation fuel (jet fuel) at $38.4 million.

The rise in imports during the second quarter was driven primarily by increased purchases of diesel and petrol. In the case of diesel, expenditure climbed from $164.9 million in the first quarter to $290.7 million in the second, while petrol imports rose from $56.4 million to $110.3 million.

In March, the government noted that approximately 80% of Mozambique’s fuel imports originated in the Middle East and transited through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s principal oil and petroleum product shipping routes. This external exposure was compounded by difficulties faced by some companies in the sector in accessing foreign exchange to finance imports, a situation acknowledged by the BdM.

To address supply constraints, the government approved on 3 August an emergency mechanism allowing for the mobilisation of up to $50 million through state oil company Petromoc to ‘ensure the import of liquid fuels for the domestic market in the event of a crisis’, according to the terms of the resolution. The measure provides for the use of an account held by the Ministry of Finance and domiciled at the BdM, designated to secure payments to external creditors related to these operations.

The resolution further establishes that, ‘exceptionally, and whenever justified’, the Minister of Finance, in coordination with the minister responsible for the fuels sector, may authorise the use of up to $40 million to guarantee the import of liquid fuels destined for the domestic market.