Tanzania’s export sector has recorded strong growth, reaching 26.3 trillion Tanzanian shillings over the past year, supported by improved business conditions, expanded international market access, and increased competitiveness of locally produced goods.According to figures presented in the National Assembly by the Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, export revenues in 2025 rose to 10.08 billion US dollars, a 16 percent increase compared to 8.7 billion US dollars in 2024.

The government credits this performance to ongoing reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy in export procedures and encouraging manufacturers to meet international quality standards.

The country’s export base remains largely driven by agriculture, including products such as sesame, coffee, tobacco, beans, rice, maize, cotton, and avocados, alongside industrial and mineral exports like gold, coal, iron sheets, ceramic tiles, and cocoa.Meanwhile, imports also grew modestly by 2.2 percent to 16.03 billion US dollars, largely due to demand for capital equipment, vehicles, fuel, pharmaceuticals, and industrial materials not produced locally.Trade with major partners showed notable expansion.Exports to the European Union increased by 37.5 percent to 943.8 million US dollars, while trade within the East African Community reached 1.26 billion US dollars and SADC markets rose to 3.55 billion US dollars.Asian markets, especially China, India, and Japan, also strengthened, with exports increasing by 13.1 percent to 3.21 billion US dollars, although imports from Asia surged significantly by 83 percent.

The minister highlighted that preferential access to the Chinese market and rising global demand for Tanzanian agricultural and mineral products continue to support export growth, signalling stronger integration of Tanzania into global trade networks.