Industrial bar soap imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Tanzania imported $37.8 million of industrial bar soap in 2024 (53.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. Value fell 11% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $56.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37.8M | 53.3K t |
| 2023 | $42.6M | 57.3K t |
| 2022 | $56.6M | 57.6K t |
| 2021 | $55.2M | 71.1K t |
| 2020 | $43.7M | 70.8K t |
| 2019 | $37.0M | 69.0K t |
| 2018 | $24.1M | 36.8K t |
| 2017 | $21.9M | 40.2K t |
Where Tanzania imports industrial bar soap from
One supplier dominates: Kenya accounted for 80% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+213% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $30.3M | 80% |
| Indonesia | $3.2M | 8.4% |
| China | $1.5M | 4.1% |
| Uganda | $898K | 2.4% |
| South Africa | $670K | 1.8% |
| Singapore | $588K | 1.6% |
| India | $178K | 0.5% |
| Burundi | $92K | 0.2% |
| Turkey | $80K | 0.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $57K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.71 per kg, 58% below the world average of $1.70, 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.
Industrial bar soap exports from Tanzania
Tanzania exported $16.9 million of industrial bar soap in 2024 (37.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Kenya (45%), Malawi (31%), Zambia (9%). Among the main buyer markets, Kenya grew fastest (+431% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $7.6M | 45% |
| Malawi | $5.3M | 31% |
| Zambia | $1.5M | 8.6% |
| Republic of the Congo | $982K | 5.8% |
| DR Congo | $634K | 3.8% |
| Burundi | $291K | 1.7% |
| Mozambique | $210K | 1.3% |
| Rwanda | $167K | 1% |
| Sudan | $76K | 0.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $56K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania industrial bar soap imports (HS 3401.19): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 3401.19: Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use.
Common questions
What is the value of industrial bar soap imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported industrial bar soap worth $37.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 53.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 15th of 221 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 11% on 2023.
Which countries supply industrial bar soap to Tanzania?
Kenya was the largest supplier with 80% of the value ($30.3 million), followed by Indonesia (8%) and China (4%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. Indonesia grew fastest among the top ten, up 213% on the year.
What is the average import price of industrial bar soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.71 per kg in 2024, 58% below the world average of $1.70 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of industrial bar soap to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $21.9 million in 2017 to $37.8 million in 2024, an increase of 73%. The peak was 2022 at $56.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $39.9 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export industrial bar soap?
Yes. Tanzania exported $16.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $20.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for industrial bar soap?
The HS code for industrial bar soap is subheading 3401.19. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3401 page.
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 industrial bar soap trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for Tanzania
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