Maize prices in Malawi have continued to stabilize, with the national average price moving by K9 to K1 178 per kilogramme (kg) or K58 900 per 50 kg bag in December 2025. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) Maize Market Report for December 2025, the maize retail price remained stable, increasing marginally from K1 169 per kg in the last week of November to K1 178 per kg in the last week of December 2025.
The report notes that the Northern Region continued to register the lowest maize prices, averaging K1 007 per kg in the final week of December, followed by the Central Region at K1 157 per kg and the Southern Region at K1 244 per kg.
Agnes Nyirongo, economic governance programmes officer at the Centre for Social Concern, attributes the easing of maize prices to the Malawi Government’s maize imports, describing it as a temporary relief. “To sustain the recent easing of maize prices in the short-term, Malawi should act decisively by ensuring timely and transparent execution of maize imports to prevent speculation and panic,” she said.
Bertha Bangara-Chikadza, president of the Economics Association of Malawi, emphasizes that inflation trends highlight the country’s underlying food pressures that need to be addressed through maize importation. Malawi’s year-on-year inflation rate dropped to 26 percent in December 2025 from 27.9 percent the previous month due to a reduction in food prices, particularly maize.
