Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
ZIMBABWE has opened a safeguard investigation into rising pasta imports amid mounting pressure on the country’s domestic pasta manufacturing industry, with imports now accounting for close to nine-tenths of the local market.
The Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) said the investigation followed an application for remedial action by National Foods Limited, the country’s sole known domestic producer of pasta products.
According to a Government Gazette published today, imports of pasta products increased by about 17.4 percent from approximately 49.5 million kilogrammes in 2024 to 58.1 million kg in 2025, while import volumes remained substantially higher than domestic production.
The CTC stressed that the investigation is still at an early stage and that the preliminary findings do not amount to a final determination that imports have caused injury to the domestic industry.
“The Competition and Tariff Commission (‘the Commission’) has received and accepted an application for remedial action in the form of a safeguard measure against increased imports of pasta products into Zimbabwe,” the Gazette said.
The Commission said National Foods had alleged that pasta products were being imported into Zimbabwe in increased quantities, both in absolute terms and relative to domestic production, under conditions that were causing or threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic industry.
The CTC said imports increased from approximately 49.5 million kg in 2024 to 58.1 million kg in 2025, representing growth of approximately 17.4 percent.
More significantly, imports increased from 6.7 times domestic production in 2024 to seven times domestic production in 2025.
Imported products accounted for 88 percent of the domestic market in 2024 and 87 percent in 2025, according to the preliminary assessment.
The Commission said this provided sufficient grounds to investigate whether imports had increased in such quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten serious injury to the domestic industry.
The investigation covers imports from all countries and territories supplying pasta to Zimbabwe, with Botswana, China, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa identified as the principal exporting countries.
The development has potentially significant implications for local manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers because any eventual trade remedy could affect the cost and availability of imported pasta.
National Foods commenced domestic pasta production in February 2024, according to the Gazette.
Before then, the applicant had participated in the Zimbabwean pasta market mainly through imports.
The commencement of manufacturing therefore represented a transition from importing to domestic production.
The CTC said this transition was relevant to its assessment of the domestic industry.
“The commencement of domestic production therefore represented a transition from importing to domestic manufacturing rather than the entry of the Applicant into the pasta market as a new participant,” the Gazette said.
National Foods has also requested consideration of a provisional safeguard measure, citing increased imports, continued high import penetration, adverse price effects and deterioration in the financial condition of the domestic industry.
The Commission said it would determine the application in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements and WTO rules.
The broader investigation is expected to be completed within six months from the date of initiation, although the Gazette provides for a possible extension of up to a further two months.
“The investigation shall, in accordance with section 14 of the Safeguard Regulations, be completed within six months from the date of initiation and may be extended only once for a further period of two months,” reads part of the Gazette.
