Cars imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Tanzania imported $434.4 million of cars in 2024 (44.8 thousand tonnes). Value rose 5% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 16% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $434.4M | 44.8K t |
| 2023 | $411.8M | 47.7K t |
| 2022 | $295.1M | 42.6K t |
| 2021 | $251.9M | 25.9K t |
| 2020 | $210.2M | 23.5K t |
| 2019 | $291.9M | 27.4K t |
| 2018 | $189.3M | 20.9K t |
| 2017 | $152.0M | 19.9K t |
Where Tanzania imports cars from
Japan alone supplied 69% of it. Among the main suppliers, United Kingdom grew fastest (+97% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $301.8M | 70% |
| United Kingdom | $32.5M | 7.5% |
| South Africa | $23.7M | 5.5% |
| India | $22.7M | 5.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $12.4M | 2.8% |
| South Korea | $10.3M | 2.4% |
| China | $6.0M | 1.4% |
| Thailand | $4.9M | 1.1% |
| Singapore | $4.0M | 0.9% |
| Germany | $3.4M | 0.8% |
Product types under HS 8703
| 8703.23 | Petrol cars 1500-3000cc | 34% |
| 8703.33 | Diesel cars >2500cc | 27% |
| 8703.24 | Petrol cars >3000cc | 11% |
| 8703.22 | Petrol cars 1000-1500cc | 8.7% |
| 8703.32 | Diesel cars 1500-2500cc | 6% |
| 8703.21 | Petrol cars <1000cc | 5.1% |
| 8703.40 | Hybrid petrol-electric cars | 4.1% |
| 8703.90 | Cars (other power types) | 3.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8703.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.69 per kg, 40% below the world average of $16.22, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cars exports from Tanzania
In 2024, Tanzania exported cars worth $9.6 million (1.6 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Uganda accounted for 52% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+360% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $4.9M | 52% |
| Kenya | $2.5M | 26% |
| United Arab Emirates | $542K | 5.7% |
| Zambia | $422K | 4.4% |
| DR Congo | $281K | 2.9% |
| Namibia | $148K | 1.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $121K | 1.3% |
| Senegal | $100K | 1% |
| South Africa | $78K | 0.8% |
| United States | $78K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania cars imports (HS 8703): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8703: Motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading no. 8702), including station wagons and racing cars.
Common questions
What is the value of cars imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported cars worth $434.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 44.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 99th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply cars to Tanzania?
Japan was the largest supplier with 69% of the value ($301.8 million), followed by the United Kingdom (7%) and South Africa (5%). The top three together account for 82%, out of 58 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 411% on the year.
What is the average import price of cars per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.69 per kg in 2024, 40% below the world average of $16.22 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cars to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $152.0 million in 2017 to $434.4 million in 2024, an increase of 186%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $279.6 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export cars?
Yes. Tanzania exported $9.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $424.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for cars?
The HS code for cars is heading 8703. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 8703.23 (34% of the value) and 8703.33 (27%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Tanzania reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
Cars product types in Tanzania
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