Tanzania eyes bigger share of China trade
By Agencies
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Embassy in China has urged Tanzanians to take advantage of China’s zero-tariff policy for African products by expanding exports of agricultural produce, minerals and value-added goods to the world’s second-largest economy.
The call follows China’s decision to remove import tariffs on products from nearly all African countries, including Tanzania, creating fresh opportunities for exporters seeking access to the vast Chinese market.
Tanzaniainvestment opportunities
Tanzania’s Ambassador to China, Dr Suleiman Haji Suleiman, told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Tanzania has significant untapped potential in both the agricultural and mining sectors, stressing the need to increase exports of processed and value-added products.
He cited strong demand in China for products such as cashew nuts, sesame, sisal, tobacco, ginger, honey, fruits, spices, cloves and fresh vegetables, urging producers and exporters to comply with quality standards, legal requirements and proper packaging specifications.
“The embassy will continue to work closely with Tanzanians to identify opportunities and facilitate access to the Chinese market,” Ambassador Suleiman said.
He also encouraged miners and mining companies to explore export opportunities for critical minerals such as graphite and lithium, which are increasingly sought after for electric vehicle battery production.
China is among the world’s leading producers of electric vehicles and a major consumer of minerals used in battery manufacturing.
He said the Embassy in the forthcoming 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) has designated a special pavilion for all Tanzanians to familiarise with potential investment opportunities in China and means to harness them.
On logistics, he said about 30 active Tanzanian logistics companies currently facilitate the transportation of goods from Tanzania to China, helping exporters access the market more efficiently.
Despite growing opportunities, Ambassador Suleiman noted that low production volumes, limited value addition and failure to meet required quality standards continue to constrain Tanzanian exports to China.
As a result, trade between the two countries remains heavily skewed in China’s favour.
According to the ambassador, bilateral trade reached 23.2 billion US dollars (about 61tri/-) between 2021 and 2025.
Of that amount, China’s exports accounted for 21.3 billion US dollars (about 56tri/-), while Tanzania exported goods worth 1.8 billion US dollars (about 4.7tri/-), representing only eight per cent of total trade.
Tanzaniainvestment opportunities
He urged Tanzanians interested in doing business with China to seek guidance from the embassy, saying a better understanding of the market and regulatory environment would reduce risks and improve returns on investment.
Driven by Tanzania’s ambition to become a regional manufacturing hub, the embassy is encouraging exporters to focus on processed and branded products rather than raw materials in order to increase earnings and reduce the trade imbalance.
Ambassador Suleiman warned that exporting raw commodities allows intermediaries in other countries to add value and re-export the products under their own brands.
He said the Embassy also will continue to bring Chinese investors in Tanzania in manufacturing and enhance educational exchanges among universities of the two countries to catalyse transfer of technologies while creating jobs.
He noted that currently the China Foreign Direct Investment in Tanzania stands at 9.4 billion US dollars (over 24tri/-) in 883 projects including
