Tanzania's imports rise 21.4% to US$21.27bn in 12 months to August, central bank data show

Tanzania's imports of goods and services rose 21.4% to US$21,269.2 million in the 12 months to August 2026, according to the Bank of Tanzania's Monthly Economic Review for September 2026.

The central bank said the rise came largely from imports of intermediate and capital goods. Imports of petroleum products rose 51.7% to US$3,425.6 million, from US$2,257.4 million a year earlier, and accounted for about one third of the increase in the goods import bill.

Payments for services increased 9.4% to US$3,498.2 million, from US$3,196.2 million, driven largely by freight payments, which rose 29.5% from US$1,300.4 million to US$1,683.4 million.

Exports grew as well. Exports of goods and services increased 16.4% to US$20,216.2 million in the year to August, including gold exports of US$5,625.0 million, up from US$4,321.5 million. The current account deficit widened 45.9% to US$2,481.8 million, from US$1,700.9 million a year earlier.

Kenya's trade with Tanzania fell 9.4% to KES 114.1 billion in 2025, from an all-time high of KES 125.9 billion in 2024, the Kenyan newspaper Business Daily reported on 5 May, citing Kenya's 2026 Economic Survey. Kenyan exports to Tanzania fell 5.3% to KES 63.63 billion and imports from Tanzania 14.1% to KES 50.47 billion.

Tanzania's The Citizen newspaper reported on 9 October, citing Bank of Tanzania data, that payments for imported goods and services rose from US$18.63 billion in the 12 months to February 2026 to US$21.27 billion in the 12 months to August. The newspaper tied the rise to disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and said the central bank attributed the increase in petroleum import spending to higher global oil prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Oscar Kissanga, chief executive officer of the Tanzania National Chamber of Commerce, said, as quoted by The Citizen, that the chamber had received complaints from some members, particularly those dealing in electronics and construction equipment. "The increase in transport costs has disrupted their capital and made doing business difficult," he said. "It has caused retail prices to increase, and those affected are the customers."

Severin Mushi, chairman of the Kariakoo Business Community in Dar es Salaam, said, as quoted by The Citizen, that freight charges had risen sharply, with some traders reporting increases of more than 100%. "If someone was paying $2,000 before, you can now find that the same quantity costs $5,000, which is costly," he said.

Fuel prices have also moved up. The Citizen reported on 8 October that the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) raised its fuel price caps from 8 October, reversing three consecutive months of declines. In Dar es Salaam the cap for petrol rose by TZS 261 to TZS 4,057 a litre and the cap for diesel by TZS 209 to TZS 4,086.

The increases followed a rise in international prices of refined petroleum products in September, which Ewura attributed to renewed Middle East tensions affecting oil production, supply and shipping. Raphael Mgaya, executive director of the Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies, said, as quoted by The Citizen, that given the geopolitical environment, the chances of significant relief on fuel prices in the near term were limited. "We may have to wait until December or possibly early January, depending on how the situation develops," he said.