Tanzania’s ability to earn foreign currency from selling goods and services to the rest of the world is continuing to expand, with total export earnings reaching almost TSh53 trillion in the year ending July 2026.

According to the Bank of Tanzania’s latest economic review, exports of goods and services rose by 16.5% to US$19.99 billion during the period. The increase was driven largely by gold, manufactured products and services. (TanzaniaInvest)

Using the July average exchange rate of about TSh2,653.52 per US dollar, the total is equivalent to approximately TSh53.0 trillion.

Gold remains the biggest earner

Gold continued to play a major role in Tanzania’s export performance. Gold export earnings increased by 37.4% to US$5.67 billion, accounting for nearly half of all merchandise export earnings.

In Tanzanian shillings, that is roughly TSh15.0 trillion.

But the latest figures also show that Tanzania’s export base is becoming broader.

Manufacturing is gaining ground

Exports of manufactured goods increased by 46% to US$2.22 billion, equivalent to approximately TSh5.88 trillion.

The growth was supported by products including iron and steel, glassware and textiles, indicating that Tanzania is earning more not only from raw materials but also from goods produced through domestic industrial activity. (TanzaniaInvest)

Traditional exports also remained important, generating US$1.63 billion, or about TSh4.32 trillion. Tobacco, cashew nuts and coffee were among the major contributors.

Services are becoming a major source of earnings

Tanzania earned US$8.03 billion from services during the year, approximately TSh21.3 trillion.

Travel and transport were particularly significant. Tourism receipts reached US$4.29 billion, while transport receipts increased by 29.7% to US$3.22 billion, reflecting higher freight earnings associated with increased transit cargo. (TanzaniaInvest)

This means that Tanzania’s export story is no longer only about what leaves the country through its ports. Tourism, transportation, manufacturing and other services are increasingly bringing money into the economy.

What does this mean for ordinary Tanzanians?

Higher export earnings can have effects far beyond the headline numbers.

When farmers sell more coffee, cashews or tobacco abroad, when factories produce more goods for regional markets, when mines increase production, and when tourists spend more in Tanzania, the resulting economic activity creates demand for workers, transporters, suppliers, hotels, restaurants, traders and small businesses.

For businesses involved in producing goods and services for foreign markets, stronger export demand can mean more customers, more investment and more opportunities to expand.

There is also an important foreign-exchange effect. Tanzania ended July 2026 with US$6.20 billion in official foreign-exchange reserves, enough to cover about 4.8 months of projected imports. (TanzaniaInvest)

However, the numbers also show that challenges remain. Imports of goods and services rose 18.3% to US$20.81 billion, faster than exports, contributing to a widening current-account deficit. (TanzaniaInvest)

The bigger picture is therefore one of an economy becoming increasingly connected to regional and global markets. The more Tanzania can move from exporting raw materials toward exporting manufactured products, tourism, transport and other higher-value services, the greater the potential for export growth to translate into jobs, incomes and business opportunities for ordinary citizens.