Tanzania Exports Up by +15% in 2021, Tourism Arrivals Up by +48%

Tanzania Exports in 2021

Tanzania’s exports of goods and services increased to USD 9,818.6 million in the year ending December 2021, from USD 8,555.5 million in the corresponding period in 2020, showing a year-on-year increase of 14.76%.

This was revealed by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) in its latest Monthly Economic Review of January 2022.

The expansion was on account of a rise in exports of manufactured goods particularly sisal and sisal products, manufactured tobacco and other manufactured products as well as horticulture, fish products, and travel receipts.

Exports of goods increased by +6.0% to USD 6,755.6 million, with non-traditional goods rising by 9.7% to USD 5,763.0 million.

Gold exports fell by 7.2% to USD 2,743.1 million and accounted for 40.6% of total goods exports, driven by the recent decline in the world market prices.

Exports of manufactured goods rose to USD 1,213.2 million in the year ending December 2021, from USD 908.6 million in 2020, driven by sisal and sisal products, manufactured tobacco and other manufactured products, particularly iron and steel, cosmetics, plastic, paper, and paper products.

On a monthly basis, exports of non-traditional goods were USD 465.2 million, slightly higher than USD 452.9 million in December 2020.

Exports of traditional goods declined to USD 627.9 million from USD 808.1 million in the same period in 2020. Much decline was recorded in exports of cashew nuts, tobacco, and cotton.

On a monthly basis, traditional exports were largely unchanged at around USD 135.0 million.

Services receipts increased to USD 3,229.2 million, from USD 2,183.8 million in the year ending December 2020, largely boosted by travel (tourism) and transport receipts.

Travel receipts rose to USD 1,396.34 million, consistent with a rise in the number of international tourist arrivals by 48% to 918,603, as the recovery in tourism activities is underway.

On a monthly basis, services receipts were USD 362.9 million, compared to USD 218.9 million in December 2020, with travel receipts accounting for the larger increase.

Want to know more about Tourism in Tanzania? Our free Tanzania Business and Investment Guide 2026 covers Tourism, plus regulations, key sectors, and investment opportunities—all in one place.

Download Free Guide
Related Posts
TANZANIA ECONOMIC UPDATE YE MARCH 2026
Read More

Tanzania Monthly Economic Review March 2026: Exports Rise 12.8% as Gold Jumps 38.5%, Manufacturing Up 32% and Tourism Receipts Reach USD 4.3 billion

Tanzania’s Monthly Economic Review for March 2026 shows export earnings rose 12.8% to USD 18.6 billion, driven by a 38.5% increase in gold exports to USD 5.2 billion, a 32% rise in manufactured goods exports to USD 1.8 billion, and stronger service receipts from tourism and transport. Travel earnings reached USD 4.3 billion, transport receipts rose to USD 2.7 billion, and traditional exports also increased.
Tanzania Kenya Rwanda
Read More

Tanzania Hosts Rwanda and Kenya Presidents, Signs MoUs on Tanga-Taveta SGR, Dar-Mombasa Gas Pipeline, and Scraps Non-Tariff Barriers

Tanzania hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame on 3 May 2026 and Kenyan President William Ruto on 4-5 May 2026, signing eight MoUs with Kenya covering railways and a Dar es Salaam-Mombasa gas pipeline study, and agreeing to eliminate all non-tariff barriers by May 2026. Bilateral trade with Rwanda reached TZS 644 billion in 2025, while Tanzania-Kenya trade stood at over USD 720 million in 2024.
Dodoma Region Investment Guide
Read More

Tanzania Government Calls for Investment in Dodoma Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Trade

Tanzania's Finance Minister and the Dodoma Regional Commissioner have jointly called on investors to tap into opportunities in Dodoma's mining, agriculture, tourism, and trade, with mining flagged as the region's largest potential through value addition. Specific openings include a proposed dry port to leverage Dodoma's central location at the heart of Tanzania, the construction of five-star hotels and international conference centres, and the development of mineral processing facilities, alongside the rollout of the Tourism Development Strategy for Dodoma Region 2025–2030.