Cotton Value Chain
Cotton / Textiles · Production, ginning, textiles
Cotton is one of the major movers of Zimbabwe's agricultural production, rising from 139,000 tonnes in 2019 to 492,000 tonnes in 2023. Africa rank 10, world rank 27 — investment opportunity across the primary-to-textile value chain.
Cotton is one of the six major crops driving Zimbabwe's remarkable rise in agricultural production. National output has grown from 139,000 tonnes in 2019 to 492,000 tonnes in 2023, with production value rising from US$36m to US$127.4m over the same period. Zimbabwe is ranked 10th in Africa and 27th globally in cotton exports.
Cotton contributes 12.5% of agricultural GDP and is a major foreign currency earner. Zimbabwe is ranked 10th in Africa and 27th globally in cotton exports.
Where the capital goes.
Investment opportunities exist across the full cotton value chain — primary production, ginning capacity, textiles and apparel manufacturing — building on rapid recent growth in national output.
Numbers from the prospectus.
Local demand, export demand and production gaps.
Why Zimbabwe.
Approximately 33 million hectares of arable land for crop and livestock production.
Over 10,000 small, medium and large dams — potential to irrigate up to 2 million hectares.
Temperate climate favourable across five agro-ecological regions.
Strong human capital base with a 90% literacy rate.
Strategic location on the North-South Corridor — regional logistics hub.
Preferential market access through SADC, COMESA, ACP, AfCFTA and WTO.
Multi-currency system eliminating exchange rate risk; dividends and profits freely remittable.
Investment Promotion & Protection Agreements (bilateral and multilateral).
Enabling infrastructure.
Why invest in this opportunity.
Register interest in Cotton Value Chain.
Submit your details to receive the full information pack and arrange an introduction with sector counterparts and project promoters. Every enquiry is reviewed personally by the Invest Zimbabwe team.