Heavy cotton fabric imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Tanzania imported heavy cotton fabric worth $10.1 million (3.5 thousand tonnes). Value fell 3% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $13.7 million.
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 | $10.1M | 3.5K t |
| 2023 | $10.5M | 2.4K t |
| 2022 | $11.9M | 2.4K t |
| 2021 | $12.8M | 2.0K t |
| 2020 | $10.1M | 2.1K t |
| 2019 | $11.5M | 2.2K t |
| 2018 | $11.8M | 1.3K t |
| 2017 | $13.7M | 2.0K t |
Where Tanzania imports heavy cotton fabric from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 96% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $9.8M | 96% |
| India | $160K | 1.6% |
| Hong Kong | $154K | 1.5% |
| Thailand | $53K | 0.5% |
| Kenya | $8K | 0.1% |
| Pakistan | $7K | 0.1% |
| Australia | $5K | 0.1% |
| South Africa | $2K | 0% |
| Indonesia | $2K | 0% |
| Bangladesh | $1K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5209
| 5209.42 | Denim | 93% |
| 5209.51 | Printed heavy plain cotton fabric | 3.1% |
| 5209.39 | Dyed heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 1.8% |
| 5209.31 | Dyed heavy plain cotton fabric | 1.1% |
| 5209.19 | Unbleached heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.8% |
| 5209.11 | Unbleached heavy plain cotton fabric | 0.3% |
| 5209.32 | Dyed heavy twill cotton fabric | 0.2% |
| 5209.59 | Printed heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5209.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.92 per kg, 57% below the world average of $6.83, 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.
Heavy cotton fabric exports from Tanzania
Tanzania exported $5.2 million of heavy cotton fabric in 2024 (716 tonnes). Kenya alone took 100% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $5.2M | 100% |
| United States | $3K | 0.1% |
| Namibia | $1K | 0% |
| South Korea | $1K | 0% |
| Bahrain | $0K | 0% |
| Ireland | $0K | 0% |
| Sri Lanka | $0K | 0% |
| Czech Republic | $0K | 0% |
| South Africa | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania heavy cotton fabric imports (HS 5209): 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 5209: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of heavy cotton fabric imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported heavy cotton fabric worth $10.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 57th of 211 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply heavy cotton fabric to Tanzania?
China was the largest supplier with 96% of the value ($9.8 million), followed by India (2%) and Hong Kong (2%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 16 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 235% on the year.
What is the average import price of heavy cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.92 per kg in 2024, 57% below the world average of $6.83 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of heavy cotton fabric to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.7 million in 2017 to $10.1 million in 2024, a fall of 26%. The peak was 2017 at $13.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $11.6 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export heavy cotton fabric?
Yes. Tanzania exported $5.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Kenya, the United States and Namibia. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $5.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for heavy cotton fabric?
The HS code for heavy cotton fabric is heading 5209. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 5209.42 (92% of the value) and 5209.51 (3%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Tanzania, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World heavy cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.