Natural resources of Mozambique
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Mozambique: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
14.9 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2025)
83.7 %
Natural gas, billion cubic metres (2024)
12.2
Forest, share of land (2024)
41.3 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Oil, gas and coal
It produced 12.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2024, and exported 8.7 billion. Proved gas reserves were 2.8 trillion cubic metres in 2021. Coal output was 16,187 thousand tonnes in 2024.
View the data as a table
| Period | Production | Exports |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| 2011 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| 2012 | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 5.3 | 3.7 |
| 2014 | 5.6 | 3.8 |
| 2015 | 5.7 | 3.8 |
| 2016 | 5.8 | 4.0 |
| 2017 | 6.0 | 4.2 |
| 2018 | 6.0 | 4.2 |
| 2019 | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| 2020 | 5.3 | 4.0 |
| 2021 | 5.4 | 4.0 |
| 2022 | 5.6 | 4.0 |
| 2023 | 10.7 | 7.6 |
| 2024 | 12.2 | 8.7 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Data. Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates (ilmenite) | 1,900 | thousand metric tons | 2 | Not published | 1 | NA |
| Zirconium | 160 | thousand metric tons | 3 | 13.3 | 2 | 1,500 thousand metric tons |
| Beryllium | 3 | metric tons | 5 | 0.7 | 2 | Not published |
| Graphite | 60,000 | metric tons | 5 | 3.3 | 3 | 25,000,000 metric tons |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates (rutile) | 10 | thousand metric tons | 5 | Not published | 3 | 720 thousand metric tons |
| Tantalum | 1 | metric tons | 11 | 0.0 | 6 | NA |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 31 mineral commodities with published production in Mozambique between 2017 and 2021, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 31 of 31
| Bauxite | Metals | Not published | 3,182 | 9,912 | 8,024 | 6,491 | 7,852 | Not published |
| Aluminum, metal, primary | Metals | Not published | 577,000 | 571,000 | 565,000 | 571,000 | 564,800 | Not published |
| Beryl | Metals | kilograms | 53,200 | 381,000 | 45,000 | 79,700 | 330,350 | 2019: r |
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 166 | 507 | 430 | 488 | 764 | Not published |
| Lead, refinery, secondary | Metals | Not published | 3,828 | 3,422 | 3,943 | 4,200 | 4,594 | Not published |
| Niobium and tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | kilograms | 114,325 | 146,435 | 131,557 | 209,041 | 178,449 | Not published |
| Niobium and tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, nb content | Metals | kilograms | 3,700 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 9,100 | 7,800 | Not published |
| Niobium and tantalum, mineral concentrate, columbite-tantalite, ta content | Metals | kilograms | 26,000 | 30,000 | 27,000 | 43,000 | 37,000 | 2019: r, e; 2020: e; 2021: e |
| Ilmenite and leucoxene | Metals | Not published | 1,197,419 | 1,283,075 | 1,442,711 | 1,608,011 | 2,071,046 | 2019: r |
| Rutile | Metals | Not published | 9,137 | 8,830 | 8,264 | 5,958 | 8,915 | Not published |
| Zirconium, mineral concentrate, zircon | Metals | Not published | 124,022 | 202,022 | 121,768 | 104,076 | 123,011 | Not published |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | thousand metric tons | 2,350 | 2,400 | 2,700 | 2,800 | 3,000 | 2018: e; 2019: r, e; 2020: e; 2021: e |
| Crude | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 71,000 | 84,276 | 77,734 | 80,189 | 118,692 | 2017: e |
| Processed | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 2,847 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 2018: e; 2019: e; 2020: e; 2021: e |
| Brick clay | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 328,725 | 907,356 | 1,833,682 | 1,664,163 | 1,979,489 | 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Diatomite | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 179 | 66,426 | 72,439 | 80,189 | 72,914 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Aquamarine | Industrial Minerals | kilograms | 508 | 9 | 8 | 28 | 27 | Not published |
| Garnet | Industrial Minerals | kilograms | 159,143 | 154,864 | 128,738 | 298,857 | 172,035 | Not published |
| Ruby | Industrial Minerals | kilograms | 1,135 | 593 | 452 | 320 | 1,002 | Not published |
| Tourmaline | Industrial Minerals | kilograms | 3,674 | 6,265 | 4,267 | 106,811 | 121,058 | 2017: r |
| Graphite, crystalline flake | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 802 | 106,773 | 113,803 | 18,159 | 77,116 | 2017: r; 2019: r |
| Salt, sea | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 | Not published |
| Sand and gravel, industrial, silica sand | Industrial Minerals | kilograms | 197,665 | 361,390 | 123,572 | 163,355 | 189,329 | 2019: r |
| Gravel, including crushed stone | Industrial Minerals | cubic meters | 3,674,293 | 3,695,590 | 4,295,704 | 3,992,879 | 2,156,867 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Sand | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 5,571,195 | 5,581,622 | 3,525,857 | 3,436,179 | 5,538,527 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Crushed, limestone | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 3,245,605 | 1,052,912 | 915,200 | 1,319,746 | 1,619,681 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Dimension, granite | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 457 | 434 | 2,229 | 2,382 | 842 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
| Bituminous | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | Not published | 4,391,833 | 6,891,201 | 4,983,146 | 3,370,585 | 5,346,781 | 2017: r |
| Metallurgical | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | Not published | 7,385,930 | 8,355,292 | 5,356,390 | 4,670,626 | 5,732,902 | 2017: r |
| Natural gas, gross weight | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | million cubic meters | 3,731 | 4,171 | 4,990 | 4,859 | 4,712 | Not published |
| Condensate | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | thousand 42-gallon barrels | 409 | 380 | 302 | 281 | 266 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 40 of 40
| Aluminum | South32 Ltd., 47.1%; Mitsubishi Corporation Metals Holding GmbH, 25%; Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd., 24%; Government, 3.9% | Mozal smelter at Beluluane, Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Bauxite | Mina Alumina Lda. | Mine at Vila de Manica Manica Province | Not published | Not published |
| Bentonite | Minerais Industriais de Moçambique Lda. | Mine at Mafuiane, Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Beryl | African Rare Gemwood | Mine in Zambezia Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Cimentos de Moçambique SARL [Cimentos de Portugal SGPS, SA (Cimpor), 82.46%] | Plants at Dondo, Matola, and Nacala Maputo, Nampula and Sofala, Provinces | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Cimentos de Beira (Ambrian plc, 100%) | Plant at Beira, Sofala Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Limak Holding | Plant near Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Austral Cimentos Sofala S.A. (HeidelbergCement AG 100%) | Plant at Dondo, Sofala Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Cimentos de Nacala S.A. [Cimentos de Portugal, SGPS SA (Cimpor), 100%] | Plant at Nacala, Nampula Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Cimento Nacional Lda. | Plant at Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Fabrica Cimentos de Cabo Delgado | Plant in Metuge District, Cabo Delgado Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | S & S Cimentos | Plant at Matola, Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Maputo Cement and Steel | Plant at Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Adil Cimentos | Plant at Tchumene, Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Coal, bituminous | Vale Moçambique, Lda. [Vale S.A., 80.7%; Mitsui & | Moatize Mine, Tete Province | Not published | Not published |
| and metallurgical | Co., Ltd., 14.25%; Empresa Moçambicana de Exploração Mineira S.A. (EMEM), 5%] | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| and metallurgical | International Coal Ventures Private Ltd., 65%, and Tata Steel Ltd., 35% | Benga Mine, Tete Province | Not published | Not published |
| and metallurgical | Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. | Chirodzi Mine, Tete Province | Not published | Not published |
| and metallurgical | Beacon Hill Resources plc (BHR) | Minas Moatize Mine, Tete Province | Not published | Not published |
| Diatomite | Diatomites de Moçambique Lda. | Diana quarry near Manica | Not published | Not published |
| Aquamarine | Mozambique Gems Ltd. | Mine near Mavuco | Not published | kilograms |
| Garnet do. | Sociedade Vision 2000 Lda. | Cuamba, Niassa Province | Not published | Not published |
| Garnet do. | Artisanal miners | Various locations | Not published | Not published |
| Ruby do. | Montepuez Ruby Mining Lda. (MRM) (Gemfields plc 75%, and Mwiriti Lda., 25%) | Montepuez ruby mine, Cabo Delgado Province | Not published | Not published |
| Ruby do. | Mustang Resources Ltd. | Montepuez ruby project Cabo Delgado Province | Not published | Not published |
| Ruby do. | Artisanal miners | Niassa Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tourmaline | Artisanal miners | Various mines in Barue District Manica Province | Not published | Not published |
| Gold | Artisanal miners | Various mines in Barue District Manica Province | Not published | kilograms |
| Gold | Xtract Resources Plc (Explorator Lda., 100%) | Manica gold project, Manica Province | Not published | kilograms |
| Graphite | GK Ancuabe Graphite Mine SA. [Graphit Kropfmühl GmbH, 90%, and Empresa Moçambicana de Exploração Mineira, S.A. (EMEM), 10%] | Ancuabe graphite mine Cabo Delgado Province | Not published | Not published |
| Graphite | Syrah Resources Ltd. (Twigg Exploration and Mining Limitada, 100%) | Balama Graphite operation, Cabo Delgado Province | Not published | Not published |
| Lead, refinery, secondary | Gravita Mozambique Lda. (Gravita India Ltd., 100%) | Plant at Maputo | Not published | Not published |
| Natural gas million | Sasol Ltd., 70%, and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, E.P., 30% | Fields at Temane and Pande Inhambane Province | Not published | Not published |
| Commodity | Major operating companies and major equity owners | Location of main facilities | Not published | Not published |
| Niobium (columbium) and | Noventa Ltd. | Mine at Marropino Zambezia | Not published | Not published |
| ore and concentrate | Artisanal miners | Mine at Muiane, Zambezia Province | Not published | Not published |
| Titanium, mineral concentrates | Kenmare Resources plc | Moma Mine at Topuito in Nampula Province | Not published | Not published |
| Titanium, mineral concentrates | Haiyu (Mozambique) Mining Company Lda. | Mine at Sangage in Manica Province | Not published | Not published |
| Zirconium, mineral concentrate | Kenmare Resources plc | Moma Mine at Topuito in Nampula | Not published | Not published |
| zircon | Haiyu (Mozambique) Mining Company Lda. | Mine at Sangage in Manica Province | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2019, Mozambique. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 14.9% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Mozambique 15th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Oil | Natural gas | Minerals | Coal | Forests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.1 % | 2.1 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 8.0 % |
| 2011 | 0.2 % | 2.5 % | 0.0 % | 1.6 % | 7.1 % |
| 2012 | 0.2 % | 2.5 % | 0.0 % | 2.0 % | 7.2 % |
| 2013 | 0.3 % | 2.5 % | 0.0 % | 1.7 % | 7.1 % |
| 2014 | 0.1 % | 2.5 % | 0.0 % | 1.5 % | 7.8 % |
| 2015 | 0.1 % | 2.1 % | 0.0 % | 1.3 % | 8.7 % |
| 2016 | 0.1 % | 2.0 % | 0.2 % | 1.8 % | 12.2 % |
| 2017 | 0.1 % | 2.2 % | 0.2 % | 4.6 % | 11.1 % |
| 2018 | 0.1 % | 3.0 % | 0.0 % | 5.9 % | 7.4 % |
| 2019 | 0.1 % | 2.7 % | 0.0 % | 3.3 % | 6.6 % |
| 2020 | 0.0 % | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 1.8 % | 7.8 % |
| 2021 | 0.1 % | 3.6 % | 0.1 % | 3.8 % | 7.3 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
41.3 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
10.5 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
3,071 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Mozambique. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Mozambique have?
Mozambique's main natural resources are natural gas, coal, titanium mineral concentrates, zirconium, beryllium and graphite. It was the world's 3rd largest producer of zirconium in 2025, with 13.3% of world output. Oil, gas and coal made up 54.2% of its goods exports in 2025, and all resources together 83.7%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 14.9% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of bauxite, gold, niobium and tantalum, ilmenite and leucoxene, rutile and crude oil, among 22 mineral commodities.
Does Mozambique produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Mozambique in 2025.
What is Mozambique's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, oil, gas and coal: 54.2% of goods exports in 2025, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Mozambique's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 14.9% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Mozambique 15th of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Mozambique?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2019 list of Mozambique's mineral industry names 33 operating companies, including South32 Ltd., 47.1%; Mitsubishi Corporation Metals Holding GmbH, 25%; Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd., 24%; Government, 3.9%, Mina Alumina Lda., Minerais Industriais de Moçambique Lda., African Rare Gemwood and Cimentos de Moçambique SARL [Cimentos de Portugal SGPS, SA. The full list is on this page.
Where does Mozambique rank in world mineral production?
In 2025, Mozambique ranked 2nd for titanium mineral concentrates (ilmenite), 3rd for zirconium, 5th for beryllium and 5th for graphite among the producers the U.S. Geological Survey lists.