Exports

Over 6,000 Tanzanian products qualify for duty-free and quota-free access to the United States market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), now extended until the end of 2028.

Tanzania's export base spans minerals, agricultural commodities, raw materials and, prospectively, liquefied natural gas, supported by preferential access to the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and bilateral partners including China and India.

Export-driven industries also benefit from fiscal incentives under Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), positioning the country as a competitive base for production aimed at regional and global markets.

Trade Partners and Export Markets

Tanzania's largest trading partners are China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, with key exports including minerals, agricultural products and raw materials.

Imports from these partners consist mainly of machinery, electronics and industrial equipment.

Within Africa, participation in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitates cross-border trade with neighbours including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tanzania has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995, reinforcing its integration into global trade.

Preferential Market Access

Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expired in 2025 but was extended until the end of 2028^[2], over 6,000 Tanzanian products qualify for duty-free and quota-free access to the U.S. market, covering textiles, agricultural goods and manufactured items.

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) provide comparable access to the 27 European Union member states.

Through the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, Tanzania also enjoys duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union for all exports except arms and ammunition.

The Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) offers significant tariff reductions for exports to the United Kingdom.

Tanzania additionally maintains Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreements with key partners, including China and India.

Commodity Exports

Agricultural exports are anchored by key cash crops including cashews, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton and avocados, all of which carry strong external demand.

On the minerals side, Tanzania is Africa's fourth-largest gold producer and holds substantial deposits of graphite, rare earth minerals, nickel and uranium.

Rising global demand for battery minerals such as graphite and nickel positions Tanzania as a key supplier in the global transition to renewable energy technologies.

Gold and diamonds have historically been the mainstay of the country's mineral production and remain core export commodities.

Energy Exports and the LNG Project

Tanzania holds 57 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, mostly offshore, with plans for an LNG export terminal that would unlock a new export category for the country.

The Tanzania Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project, also known as the Likong'o-Mchinga LNG Project, is a planned USD 42 billion venture designed to monetize these offshore reserves.

Gas will be transported via subsea pipelines to a processing plant and export terminal in Likong'o, Lindi, with the facility expected to produce 10 million metric tonnes of LNG annually.

Negotiations with investors, including Shell and Equinor, are progressing, with a final investment decision targeted for 2026.

Once operational, the project is expected to generate substantial Government revenue, create thousands of jobs and strengthen Tanzania's energy security and export capabilities.

Policy Framework and Export Zones

Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050), released in July 2025, identifies export growth as a core pillar of economic transformation and competitiveness, alongside enhanced productivity and increased public and private investment.

Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, including tax holidays and import duty exemptions, to manufacturers producing for export markets.

Legal protection for export-oriented investors is reinforced through membership in the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Turkey and Mauritius^[1].

Investment Opportunities in Export Sectors

Manufacturing for export is supported by EPZ and SEZ incentives, with opportunities in textiles, cement, steel, food processing and pharmaceuticals to meet rising domestic and export demand.

In energy, opportunities exist in LNG infrastructure, gas processing and exports, anchored by the planned 10 million tonnes per year Likong'o-Mchinga facility.

In mining, the global energy transition is creating demand pull for graphite, nickel, rare earth minerals and uranium, complementing established gold exports.

In agriculture, agro-processing and commercial farming of cashews, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton and avocados can leverage preferential access to the United States, European Union and United Kingdom markets.

Logistics, warehousing and freight services around the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the expanded road network and the Dar es Salaam Port serve both Tanzania's own exports and the transit trade of landlocked neighbours.

Last Update: May 2026

References

1. https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/countries/222/tanzania-united-republic-of (Guide reference #7)
2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6500 (Guide reference #28)