Overview of Tanzania’s Trade Landscape

Tanzania plays a growing role in regional and global trade, with a diversified basket of imported and exported goods. The country is strategically positioned to benefit from multiple trade agreements and market access opportunities, making it a vital player in the agriculture, food, and commodity value chains.

1. Imports – Food & Agricultural Goods for Household Use

Tanzania imports a wide range of essential goods, largely for household consumption and to fill gaps in local production, especially in urban centers and during shortfall seasons. Key imported items include:

  • Grains & Cereals: Wheat, rice, and maize (especially during poor harvest years)
  • Tubers & Pulses: Potatoes, lentils, beans
  • Meats & Fish: Frozen chicken, beef, and processed fish
  • Dairy & Sugar: Milk powder, processed milk, and sugar (particularly industrial-grade)
  • Edible Oils: Sunflower, palm oil, and soybean oil
  • Horticulture: Onions, garlic, tomatoes, and seasonal vegetables
  • Beverages & Processed Foods: Juices, soft drinks, malted beverages, canned foods

Drivers of imports:

  • Insufficient local production capacity
  • Population growth and urbanization
  • Shifting consumption patterns toward processed and imported foods
  • Limited agro-processing and cold storage infrastructure

2. Exports – Agricultural and Natural Resources

Tanzania is an important exporter of raw and semi-processed agricultural goods, with strong presence in both regional and global markets. Key export goods include:

  • Cash Crops: Coffee, cotton, tobacco, cashew nuts
  • Staples: Maize, rice (especially surplus during good harvest seasons)
  • Livestock & Meat: Live animals and processed meats
  • Fish & Seafood: Nile perch and marine products
  • Horticulture: Fruits, vegetables, and flowers (growing sub-sector)
  • Forestry: Timber and wood products

Export trends:

  • Focus is shifting from raw exports to value-added and processed goods.
  • Export diversification is a government priority under the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III) and Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP-II).

3. EAC Market (East African Community)

Tanzania is a member of the EAC, providing access to a regional market of over 300 million people. The EAC is one of Tanzania’s most important trade blocs due to proximity, cultural ties, and harmonized regulations.

  • Exports to EAC: Maize, rice, sugar, cement, livestock, vegetables
  • Imports from EAC: Processed food, poultry, eggs, manufactured goods
  • EAC promotes free movement of goods, people, and capital, reducing trade barriers

4. SADC Market (Southern African Development Community)

As a member of SADC, Tanzania trades actively with countries such as Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, and DRC.

  • Exports to SADC: Grains, cement, fish, textiles, and tobacco
  • Imports from SADC: Sugar, edible oils, chicken, beverages, machinery
  • SADC provides access to a 350+ million consumer market, and Tanzania benefits from trade protocols reducing tariffs on qualifying goods.

5. AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)

Tanzania is a participant in the AfCFTA, the largest free trade area in the world by number of countries (54), aiming to create a single African market.

  • Offers vast opportunities for Tanzanian exports in West and Central Africa
  • Potential to boost intra-African trade in agriculture, textiles, and light manufacturing
  • Still early in implementation—Tanzania is aligning national laws and logistics to benefit from it

6. AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act – U.S. Market)

AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for qualifying African products.

  • Tanzania’s main AGOA exports: Apparel, textiles, coffee, cashew nuts, and handicrafts
  • Underutilized by Tanzania—government and private sector are encouraged to improve compliance (rules of origin, quality standards)
  • AGOA is set to expire in 2025, with talks of possible renewal or new frameworks underway

7. UK Market

Following Brexit, Tanzania engages the UK through the UK-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

  • Exports: Coffee, tea, spices, fish, horticulture
  • Imports: Processed foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals
  • The UK is a growing market for sustainably grown and certified products, especially from smallholder cooperatives

8. European Union (EU) Market

The EU is a longstanding trade partner, particularly for agricultural and fisheries exports.

  • Exports: Coffee, fish, flowers, spices, fruits, nuts
  • Strict compliance required on sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS), traceability, and sustainability
  • EPA between EAC and EU provides preferential access, though implementation has been slow

9. China Market

China is a rapidly expanding partner for both imports and exports:

  • Imports from China: Machinery, electronics, fertilizer, processed food
  • Exports to China: Cashew nuts, sesame, timber, minerals, seafood
  • Increasing Chinese interest in horticulture and aquaculture products
  • Government cooperation under Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) supports trade and infrastructure

10. Asia Market (incl. India, Indonesia, Japan, etc.)

Tanzania’s engagement with wider Asia is strong and growing:

  • Exports: Coffee, pulses, cashews, minerals, spices
  • Imports: Rice, sugar, spices, edible oils, consumer goods
  • India is a key trading partner; also growing relationships with Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, and Malaysia for food and agricultural trade

11. United Arab Emirates (UAE) Market

The UAE serves both as a final market and re-export hub for Tanzanian products:

  • Exports: Fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, spices
  • Imports: Processed foods, beverages, wheat, cooking oil
  • UAE investment is rising in agriculture, logistics, and food security projects in Tanzania (e.g., grain terminals, cold chains)

Key Insights

  • Import Dependence: Tanzania imports many basic food items due to processing, production, and infrastructure gaps—presenting opportunities for domestic investment.
  • Export Opportunity: With fertile land and favorable climate, Tanzania is well-positioned to expand exports of value-added agro-products, especially in regional and niche international markets.
  • Market Access: Membership in regional (EAC, SADC, AfCFTA) and international (AGOA, EU, UK) trade frameworks provides preferential access to high-value markets.
  • Challenges: Exporters must meet quality, certification, and logistics requirements—a key area for support and investment.
  • Potential: With strategic investment in agro-processing, cold chains, and export facilitation, Tanzania can become a regional hub for agri-food exports.