Xifres de comerç exterior de Tanzània

Foreign Trade in Figures

Tanzania is open to foreign trade, which represents 30% of its GDP (World Bank). The country's trade policy aims to create local industries that are more competitive and to diversify its export sector in order to stimulate economic growth. Tanzania mainly exports gold (48.72% of total exports), nuts (6.3%), precious metal ores (5.89%), vegetables, coffee, cereals and tobacco (ITC, 2020). The main imports are petroleum (16.25% of total imports), machinery (11.18%), vehicles (8.84%), electrical equipment (7.86%), plastics, pharmaceutical products, iron, cereals and fertilizers (ITC, 2020).

Tanzania's main suppliers are China (25.3% of total imports), India (12.8%), the United Arab Emirates (9.7%), Japan (4.4%), South Africa (4.1%) and Saudi Arabia (4%). Its main customers are South Africa (19.1% of total exports), Switzerland (14.3%), the United Arab Emirates (12.4%), India (8.7%), China (3.9%), Kenya (3.8%) and Vietnam (3.8%) (ITC, 2020). Low customs duties (the average applied tariff rate is 7%) and few trade restrictions make the country easily accessible for international trade. Trade barriers are mainly of a logistic and non-tariff nature. For example, increased traffic in and out of the Dar es Salaam port - the main port of entry and exit of merchandise for both Tanzania and its landlocked neighbouring countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia) - has not been followed up with the necessary infrastructural investments. This constitutes one of the main barriers to trade with these countries. Poorly maintained roads and railroads also make trade difficult. However, the government has launched a large number of projects to improve infrastructure. Obtaining construction permits, registering land, and tax payments remain difficult nonetheless. Tanzania is a member of the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and as such, the country has trade relations with the member countries as well as the EU and the United States.

Tanzania suffers from a chronic trade deficit due to a capital-intensive growth model highly demanding for oil and capital goods imports. However, trade deficit is expected to decrease sharply in the future due to the increase in coal and hydrocarbon reserves. In 2019, the deficit reached USD -3.22 billion (World Bank). In 2020, merchandise exports reached USD 6.06 billion, while imports amounted to USD 7.89 billion (WTO). Exports of services reached USD 2.29 billion, while imports amounted to USD 1.14 billion (WTO). In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trade volume dropped significantly. Tanzanian trade deficit decreased due to lower imports of capital goods, but it soared again in 2021 with the recovery and increase in oil prices. Imports related to infrastructure projects, as well as medical equipment and vaccines, will weigh on the trade balance of goods, while the services account will continue to register rising surplus (Coface).