Import & Export Guide: Tanzania
Comprehensive guide to trading with Tanzania. Import procedures, tariffs, customs regulations, and logistics infrastructure.
$23.8B
Total Trade Volume (2024)
3-7 days
Avg. Customs Clearance
0-25%
Import Duty Range
Import Procedures
1. Pre-Shipment Requirements
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): Required from Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for all importers.
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC): Mandatory via Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) from PVOC Tanzania agents.
- Import Permit: Required for specific categories (pharmaceuticals, food products) from respective regulatory bodies.
- Commercial Invoice & Packing List: Must include detailed product description, HS codes, FOB/CIF values.
2. Customs Clearance Process
- Submit Customs Declaration via TanTrade Single Window System
- Upload all supporting documents (Bill of Lading, invoice, CoC, permits)
- TRA assigns risk profile: Green (auto-release), Yellow (document check), Red (physical inspection)
- Payment of customs duties, VAT, and other levies via TRA portal or authorized banks
- Physical inspection at port/border if flagged (Dar es Salaam Port, JNIA, Tunduma border)
- Release order issued after compliance verification
3. Required Documents
- ✓ Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
- ✓ Commercial Invoice
- ✓ Packing List
- ✓ Certificate of Origin
- ✓ Insurance Certificate
- ✓ TIN Certificate
- ✓ Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
- ✓ Import Permit (category-specific)
- ✓ Phytosanitary Certificate (agricultural goods)
4. Typical Clearance Timeline
Green Channel (Low Risk): 1-2 days (automated clearance)
Yellow Channel (Medium Risk): 3-5 days (documentary review)
Red Channel (High Risk): 5-7 days (full physical inspection)
Perishables & Pharmaceuticals: Priority processing available (24-48 hours)
Tariffs & Duties
EAC Common External Tariff (CET)
Tanzania applies the East African Community Common External Tariff structure:
- 0%: Essential raw materials, capital equipment, strategic imports (fuel, medical supplies)
- 10%: Intermediate goods, semi-processed materials
- 25%: Finished consumer goods, manufactured products
- 35%+: Sensitive sectors (textiles, vehicles, luxury goods)
Additional Taxes & Levies
| Tax Type | Rate | Applied To |
|---|---|---|
| Import VAT | 18% | CIF + Duty |
| Excise Duty | Varies (10-100%) | Alcohol, tobacco, vehicles, fuel |
| Railway Development Levy | 1.5% | CIF + Duty |
| Import Declaration Fee | 0.6% | CIF value |
Duty Exemptions & Trade Agreements
- EAC Rules of Origin: 0% duty for qualifying goods from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan
- COMESA Free Trade Area: 0% duty for COMESA-origin goods (19 member states)
- SADC Protocol on Trade: Preferential tariffs with 16 Southern African countries
- AfCFTA: Progressive tariff elimination (90% of tariff lines by 2034)
- Export Processing Zones (EPZ): 100% duty exemption on capital goods and raw materials for export-oriented manufacturers
Logistics Infrastructure
Major Ports & Gateways
- Port of Dar es Salaam: Tanzania's largest port handling 17M+ tons annually. 11 berths with 8.2M TEU capacity. Gateway to Zambia, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda.
- Port of Tanga: Northern port handling 2M+ tons/year. Sisal, containerized cargo, general goods. Direct access to Kilimanjaro region.
- Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA): Dar es Salaam cargo hub. 120K+ tons/year. Pharmaceutical cold chain facilities.
- Kilimanjaro International Airport: Northern cargo gateway. 15K tons/year. Coffee, flowers, tourism-related cargo.
Transport Corridors & Costs
| Route | Mode | Transit Time | Est. Cost (20ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam → Dodoma | Road Truck | 8-12 hours | $600-750 |
| Dar es Salaam → Mwanza | Road Truck | 3-4 days | $1,800-2,200 |
| Dar es Salaam → Kigoma | TAZARA Rail | 5-7 days | $1,200-1,500 |
| Dar es Salaam → Lusaka | Road Truck | 7-10 days | $3,500-4,200 |
| Dar es Salaam → Bujumbura | Road Truck | 6-8 days | $3,200-3,800 |
Major Transport Corridors
- Central Corridor: Dar es Salaam → Rwanda, Burundi, DRC via Morogoro, Dodoma, Singida, Mwanza
- Northern Corridor (Tanzania Route): Tanga → Arusha → Kenya/Uganda connection
- TAZARA Corridor: Dar es Salaam → Zambia via rail (1,860 km)
Regulatory Authorities
- Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA): Customs clearance, tax collection, border management.→ tra.go.tz
- Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS): PVoC implementation, product certification, quality assurance.→ tbs.go.tz
- Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA): Port operations, Dar es Salaam and Tanga port management.→ ports.go.tz
- Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade): Export promotion, trade facilitation, single window system.→ tantrade.go.tz
- Ministry of Industry and Trade: Trade policy, AfCFTA coordination, investment promotion.
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