Malawi’s national average maize price increased by 3% in September 2026, rising from 966 kwacha per kilogram in the final week of August to 997 kwacha at the end of September, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute’s monthly report published in October.
The September level was still 27% below the average recorded a year earlier, when maize sold for 1,361 kwacha per kilogram. The comparison points to a recent increase after the harvest-season low without a return to September 2025 prices.
Regional differences remained wide. At the end of September, maize averaged 796 kwacha per kilogram in the North, 961 kwacha in the Centre and 1,088 kwacha in the South. Prices were above the government-set minimum farmgate price of 900 kwacha in 24 of the 31 monitored markets.
Imports from neighbouring countries helped contain the increase. Their average price rose by less than 4% in September, while Malawi remained a net maize importer at most monitored border points.
IFPRI collects prices six days a week in 31 markets and tracks trade weekly at 15 border locations. Three small grain traders report data from each monitored location.