Tanzania's Export Earnings Rise Above $10 Billion for the First Time

DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzania's goods export earnings crossed the USD 10 billion threshold for the first time in 2025, reaching USD 10,262.9 million against USD 9,121.6 million in 2024, a 12.5 percent increase confirmed in the National Development Plan 2026/27. The milestone reflects a combination of higher gold prices, expanded mineral output, recovering agricultural cash crop volumes, and growing non-traditional exports including horticulture and manufactured goods. What drove the crossing Minerals led. Tanzania's mineral export earnings of USD 5,401.9 million represented approximately 52.6 percent of total goods exports. Gold, Tanzania's dominant mineral export, benefited from both production continuity and the gold price environment, which reached new highs in 2024 and 2025. Mining sector growth of 9.4 percent in 2025 confirmed that production volume was also expanding rather than relying solely on price effects. Agricultural cash crops contributed USD 1,491.9 million, with tobacco, sisal, and coffee all growing on the back of improved international demand. Tanzania remains one of Africa's largest tobacco producers and a significant arabica coffee exporter whose specialty market positioning has been improving. Non-traditional exports including horticultural products, flowers, and manufactured goods contributed to the remaining export value. The plan specifically notes growth in vegetable and flower exports, which benefit from European market proximity through Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro international airports and the cold chain infrastructure whose development has been supported by the EPZA and the manufacturing park programme. Services exports amplify the total Services exports of USD 7,477.5 million add significantly to Tanzania's total external earnings picture. Tourism at USD 4,410.6 million and transport services at USD 2,647.6 million are the two dominant components. Transport services growth of 12.5 percent reflects the port's handling of increasing transit cargo for landlocked neighbours whose routing through Dar es Salaam and the SGR Central Corridor is growing. The current account improvement The current account deficit narrowed 13.9 percent from USD 2,379.8 million to USD 2,049.4 million. The improvement reflects three simultaneous dynamics: export growth at 12.5 percent outpacing import growth at 4.2 percent, petroleum import cost reduction of 21.9 percent following global oil price moderation, and the continued growth of tourism and transport services inflows. The plan projects the current account deficit continuing to narrow toward 2.0 percent of GDP in FY2025/26 and the medium term, supported by further export growth across minerals, agriculture, and services and by the progressive import substitution in manufacturing categories where domestic production is expanding.