Zanzibar’s clove exports plunge as global oversupply, climate shocks hit farmers

During the same period export volumes also shrank sharply from 3,900 tonnes to 1,200 tonnes, underscoring the double hit of weaker output and unfavourable global prices.

Officials say the downturn reflects both a cyclical dip in production and significant changes in global market dynamics.

The Zanzibar State Trade Corporation (ZSTC), the sole buyer and exporter of the Isles’ cloves, says the world market is now crowded with new producers, eroding the premium Zanzibar once enjoyed.

ZSTC’s public relations officer Mr Ali Mohamed said, “We buy all the cloves directly from farmers and sell them internationally, but global conditions are currently not favourable”.

He told The Citizen: “Several countries have expanded into clove production, increasing global supply and making the market more competitive.”

According to Mr Mohamed historically, Zanzibar’s cloves follow a predictable two-season cycle — a main harvest and a smaller secondary crop. But climate change is now disrupting that rhythm.

He said “Traditionally, we have two clear production seasons, but these patterns have become increasingly unpredictable. Rainfall is irregular, temperatures fluctuate, and flowering cycles are shifting. Farmers no longer know what to expect.”

These disruptions have led to inconsistent yields in recent years, amplifying the impact of global market shifts.

Clove exports were not the only casualty. Seaweed — Zanzibar’s second major agricultural export — also recorded a 39.7 percent decline, dropping to $3.1 million from $5.17 million recorded in the preceding year.

Together, the declines in cloves and seaweed contributed to the 35.5 percent drop in Zanzibar’s total goods exports, which went from $54.92 billion in year ending September 2024 to $35.43 billion during a corresponding period in 2025.

Despite the export slump, Zanzibar is pushing forward with structural reforms.

ZSTC recently rolled out a digital management system aimed at modernizing the clove trade, improving transparency, and reducing leakages.

Mr Mohammed said the system has already been transformative:

“We introduced a digital platform for farmer registration, payments, and delivery records. It has solved many of the operational challenges we used to face.

Errors that once complicated our processes have been greatly reduced, and now all our systems are integrated and communicating with each other.”

The reform is expected to strengthen traceability in the clove value chain, enhance payment efficiency, and reduce disputes — long-standing issues that farmers had frequently raised.

The sharp drop in clove and seaweed earnings contrasts with the booming performance of the services sector.

According to the central bank data tourist arrivals rose by 28.2 percent to 885,385 visitors, helping offset the steep decline in agricultural exports from Zanzibar.

Meanwhile in the imports of goods and services rose by 18.9 percent to $658.4 million in the year ending September 2025, compared to the amount recorded in the same period in 2024.

The BoT attributed the rise in heightened imports of goods, particularly capital and consumer goods.

Imports of capital goods in Zanzibar increased by 84.7 percent to $73.6 million, mainly attributed to increased imports of industrial transport equipment.