Domestic beer consumption in Mozambique shows signs of picking up this year, after sinking in 2020 with the onset of the pandemic, according to the latest Economic Outlook published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

"The amount of domestic beer sold increased by about 71% and imported beer reduced by about 13% in the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020," the document reads.

A graph shows a decline since the covid-19 pandemic was declared and an upturn since late 2020, but in still modest terms.

Beer is one of the products included in the consumption indicators, next to fuels: in the second quarter of this year, imports of gasoline and diesel increased by about 105% (more than double) and 40% respectively, compared to the same quarter of 2020.

Turnover shows mixed signals in the restaurant sector, one of the most affected by the pandemic.

"In Q2 2021 there was a decrease by about 15% in April," but "a growth of 19% in May," year-on-year, in both cases.

Trade turnover, on the other hand, "decreased by about 17%, compared to the same period in 2020", considering only April and May.

The detailed data now released comes after INE already announced that the Mozambican economy - the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - grew by 1.97% between April and June when compared to the same period in 2020. 

Cumulative GDP growth for the first half of 2021 is 1.05%.

Lusa Agency