Mealie Meal Prices Ease Again, But Not Everywhere the Same Way

ECONOMY
Mealie Meal Prices Ease Again, But Not Everywhere the Same Way
LUSAKA, 29 August 2026. The price of mealie meal, Zambia's staple food, has continued to fall through the middle of 2026, according to the latest data from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats). A 25kg bag of breakfast mealie meal dropped 7.53% between June and July, from a national average of K272.66 to K252.13. Roller mealie meal fell 8.96% over the same period, from K222.19 to K202.28. Maize grain, sold by the 20-litre tin, dropped 9.90%, from K110.80 to K99.83. | Product | June 2026 | July 2026 | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Breakfast mealie meal (25kg) | K272.66 | K252.13 | -7.53% | | Roller mealie meal (25kg) | K222.19 | K202.28 | -8.96% | | Maize grain (20-litre tin) | K110.80 | K99.83 | -9.90% | | Millers' gate price (25kg bag) | K260 | K220-K230 | announced June 2026 | *Source: Zambia Statistics Agency national average prices; Millers Association of Zambia. ZamStats had not yet published its August commodity-level price bulletin at the time of writing.* Annual food inflation for July 2026 was recorded at 6.4%, down from 6.7% in June, ZamStats Statistician General Sheila Mudenda said. Overall annual inflation held steady at 6.5%, the same rate recorded in June. The decline is being driven by a bumper 2026 harvest, a stronger Kwacha and falling diesel costs, which have combined to push both farmgate maize prices and milling costs down. The trend continued into August. ZamStats Acting Statistician General Chola Daka told a media briefing in Lusaka on 27 August that annual inflation had eased further to 6.2%, from 6.5% in July, an eight-year low. Food inflation eased to 6.0% from 6.4%, which Daka attributed to price movements in cereals, sugar, cooking oil and dried beans. | Inflation measure | June 2026 | July 2026 | August 2026 | |---|---|---|---| | Annual overall inflation | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.2% | | Annual food inflation | 6.7% | 6.4% | 6.0% | *Source: Zambia Statistics Agency.* ## The June price cuts The July figures follow a round of price reducti