Learn about barriers to market entry and local requirements, i.e., things to be aware of when entering the market for this country.
Last Published: 4/11/2019
  • High transport costs due to Malawi's landlocked position.  Transport costs can constitute more than 30% of the country's total import and export bill.
  • Unreliable power and water supplies.  Approximately 10% of Malawians have access to electricity (5% in rural areas and 46% in urban areas).
  • Lack of skilled and semi-skilled labor.
  • High lending rates averaging around 27% make it expensive to access capital on the local market.   
  • Political risk; administrative and regulatory uncertainty.  The Government of Malawi has often made dramatic changes to key policies and regulations, frequently affecting businesses’ profitability.
  • Corruption – lack of conflict of interest rules and non-transparent procurement procedures often disadvantage U.S. companies bidding on government tenders.
  • Longstanding commercial relationships with South Africa, Malawi's primary supplier of imported goods.  Although U.S. products are respected, a lack of historical business ties between the United States and Malawi, together with comparatively high product and transport costs, disadvantages U.S. suppliers.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.