Tanzania: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 7 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Tanzania.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Tanzania in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Tanzania may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Tanzania →

On the sanctions lists

7 entries on the official lists name Tanzania — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	3	3	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	1	1	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	1	1	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Tanzania recorded yet.

All updates →

Logistics profile

Tanzania: logistics and trade

East African transit and port hub

Tanzania (ISO code: TZ) lies in East Africa, bordering Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, with a long Indian Ocean coastline. It is a presidential republic whose capital is Dodoma. The economy rests on agriculture, mining (notably gold), energy, tourism and services. Exports are dominated by gold, agricultural goods such as coffee, cashew nuts, tobacco and cotton, and minerals, while machinery, vehicles, petroleum products and consumer goods are imported. Logistically Tanzania is the gateway and transit hub for the region's landlocked countries: the port of Dar es Salaam handles around 95 percent of foreign trade, complemented by Tanga, Mtwara and the lake ports. As an East African Community member it applies the EAC customs union and a standard import VAT of 18 percent. The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS).

Capital: Dodoma
Population: 68,560,157
Area: 947,303 km²
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Continent: Africa
Region: East Africa (EAC)
Economic area: EAC Customs Union / SADC / AfCFTA
Religions: Christianity, Islam, African religions
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Rail · Air · Inland waterway

Current situation: SGR passenger service Dar es Salaam-Morogoro-Dodoma since July 2024, electric freight service from June 2025; TAZARA modernisation (USD 1,4 bn, 2025) under way. DP World operates container terminals in Dar es Salaam.
Seasonal conditions: Two rainy seasons (Masika March to May, Vuli October to December) with flooding and difficult roads in the hinterland; tropical, hot coast.

Main seaports

Dar Es Salaam
Dar es Salaam (TZ DAR): Adani's CT2 terminal hit a record 1.48M TEU in FY2025/26; DP World investing $250M. 90% of Tanzania's trade, customs, alternatives.
Tanga
Tanga (TZ TGT): Tanzania's 2nd-largest port – general cargo; EACOP crude terminal at Chongoleani 92% complete, first oil 2026; new 300 m berth planned.
Mtwara
Mtwara (TZ MYW), a deep-water port in southern Tanzania: cashew, coal and fertiliser, about 1.7M tonnes in 2023/24 over two berths. Containers via Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar (TZ ZNZ): passenger and RoRo port, new Maruhubi terminal 2026, Mangapwani deepwater port due 2027. Spices, seafood, daily ferries to Dar es Salaam.
Mjimwema Terminal
Mjimwema Terminal off Dar es Salaam is an offshore oil SPM for tankers up to 150,000 dwt, not a container port; containers use Dar es Salaam.

Main cargo airports

Julius Nyerere International AirportDAR
Julius Nyerere (DAR): Tanzania's main cargo airport, ~29,000 t in 2024 against 100,000 t capacity. Swissport warehouses with cold chain, sea-air via Dar es Salaam port.
Kilimanjaro International AirportJRO
Kilimanjaro (JRO): Tanzania's horticulture cargo airport — cut flowers and vegetables, 24h Swissport cold store, freighters to Europe and the Middle East. Safari gateway.
Abeid Amani Karume International AirportZNZ
ZNZ Abeid Amani Karume Airport, Zanzibar, Tanzania: belly cargo only, Terminal II expansion due 2026, nearest freighter hub Dar es Salaam.

Road corridors

Central Corridor Dar es Salaam-Rwanda/Burundi/DR Congo/Uganda
TANZAM Highway Dar es Salaam-Zambia
Dar es Salaam-Arusha-Namanga (Kenya)

Rail corridors

SGR Dar es Salaam-Morogoro-Dodoma (extension towards Mwanza)
Central Line (metre gauge) Dar es Salaam-Kigoma/Mwanza
TAZARA Dar es Salaam-Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia)

Inland ports

Mwanza (Lake Victoria)
Kigoma (Lake Tanganyika)
Itungi/Kyela (Lake Nyasa)

Main trade lanes

China-Dar es Salaam
UAE/Dubai-Dar es Salaam
India-Dar es Salaam
Transit to DR Congo and Zambia

Customs and import

Customs authority Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Customs and Excise DepartmentOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Mainland imports are cleared electronically via TANCIS, Zanzibar via ASYCUDA++. Legal basis EACCMA 2004; declaration by a licensed freight forwarder, documents at least 7 days before the vessel's arrival.
Export customs system: Export declaration via TANCIS by a licensed clearing and forwarding agent; requirements under EACCMA 2004 and the EAC Customs Union; export of goods to the EAC is duty-free.
Import VAT: Import VAT standard rate 18 percent on CIF plus import duty; exports 0 percent. VAT deferment for capital goods ends from 30. June 2026 (TRA).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proofs of origin: EAC certificate of origin (duty-free within the EAC), SADC certificate, AfCFTA origin declaration. Tripartite FTA not yet ratified; no agreement with CH/EFTA or EU.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Bans and licence requirements inter alia for weapons, drugs, hazardous waste, certain agricultural and pharmaceutical products; single-use plastic bags prohibited. Controlled by TBS and TMDA.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
TANCIS import declaration
Certificate of origin
Import licences/permits (TBS, TMDA)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
TANCIS export declaration
Certificate of origin (EAC/SADC/AfCFTA)
Phytosanitary certificate

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium to high
Customs delays: Medium to high
Port congestion: Medium
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

China United Arab Emirates India South Africa Japan

Top export partners

India China United Arab Emirates Japan Germany

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Chemicals
Consumer goods

Top export goods

Gold
Coffee
Cashew nuts
Tobacco
Cotton

Typical cargo

Gold and minerals
Coffee, cashew, tobacco, cotton
Petroleum products
Machinery and vehicles
Consumer goods

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT rate in Tanzania?

The standard VAT rate is 18 percent and is levied on the customs value (CIF) plus import duty. Exports are zero-rated at 0 percent. The VAT deferment on import VAT for capital goods ends from 30. June 2026.

Which customs system does Tanzania use?

On the mainland, clearance is handled electronically via TANCIS (Tanzania Customs Integrated System), and in Zanzibar via ASYCUDA++. The legal basis is the EAC Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004.

Which import duties apply in Tanzania?

As a member of the EAC Customs Union, Tanzania applies the Common External Tariff (CET): 0 percent for raw materials, 10 percent for semi-finished goods, 25 percent for finished goods, and a fourth band of 35 percent for sensitive goods. Goods originating in the EAC are duty-free.

Through which port does Tanzania's foreign trade run?

The port of Dar es Salaam handles around 95 percent of foreign trade and also serves as a transit port for the landlocked countries Zambia, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. Other ports are Tanga, Mtwara and Zanzibar, as well as seaports on the Great Lakes.

Which free trade agreements does Tanzania have?

Tanzania is part of the EAC Customs Union and SADC and has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Tripartite Free Trade Area COMESA-EAC-SADC has been in force since July 2024, but has not yet been ratified by Tanzania. There is no free trade agreement with Switzerland/EFTA or the EU.

How is Tanzania connected by rail?

The new electric standard-gauge railway (SGR) has connected Dar es Salaam with Morogoro and Dodoma since July 2024 (freight traffic from June 2025). In addition, there is the metre-gauge central line to Kigoma/Mwanza and the TAZARA line to Zambia, which has been undergoing modernisation since 2025.

Which documents are required for imports?

Commonly required are the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, the TANCIS import declaration, a certificate of origin, as well as product-related licences and permits (for example from TBS or TMDA). The declaration is made by a licensed freight forwarder, ideally at least 7 days before the vessel's arrival.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗