Mozambique has unexpectedly reversed its decision to delay pigeon pea exports to India, bringing forward the start of shipments by nearly two months. This swift policy change comes amid a backdrop of legal disputes and an ongoing arbitration case involving one of the country’s largest agricultural exporters.
The Institute of Cereals (ICM), the government body overseeing the trade, initially announced that pigeon pea exports for the 2025/2026 fiscal year would not begin until after September 30. The delay was framed as a strategic move to protect domestic supply, prevent market speculation, and ensure logistical organization and proper certification.
However, a subsequent letter from the ICM, dated August 4, informed the Customs department that the previous instruction was being canceled. The new directive, effective immediately, cited an “assessment” that found “considerable quantities” of pigeon pea stock available for export in company warehouses. This sudden shift allows authorized companies to begin shipping the legume immediately.
The decision is particularly notable given the recent controversies surrounding the trade. In 2024, the business activities of ETG, a key exporter of pigeon peas, were embroiled in a dispute with a competitor, Royal Group Limitada (RGL), which led to the seizure of ETG’s assets at the port of Nacala.
The Mauritian-based conglomerate, which has operated in Mozambique for 25 years, has since filed an arbitration claim against the Mozambican state, seeking more than €100 million in damages. ETG accuses the government of failing to protect its investor rights and facilitating what it calls an “illegal expropriation” of its products. The company claims the state’s actions violated its right to export goods without restriction.
In 2023, Mozambique exported over 230,000 tons of pigeon peas, with more than 90% destined for India under a long-standing bilateral memorandum of understanding. The ongoing legal and commercial tensions, highlighted by ETG’s claim, add complexity to the relationship between the state and foreign investors in Mozambique’s agricultural sector.
