Light cotton fabric imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Tanzania imported $30.7 million of light cotton fabric in 2024 (4.9 thousand tonnes). Value fell 63% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $100.3 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 | $30.7M | 4.9K t |
| 2023 | $82.5M | 5.5K t |
| 2022 | $40.6M | 5.3K t |
| 2021 | $100.3M | 6.4K t |
| 2020 | $40.7M | 8.0K t |
| 2019 | $58.8M | 13.0K t |
| 2018 | $65.2M | 16.6K t |
| 2017 | $54.9M | 16.0K t |
Where Tanzania imports light cotton fabric from
China alone supplied 53% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $16.2M | 53% |
| India | $13.8M | 45% |
| Pakistan | $273K | 0.9% |
| Hong Kong | $216K | 0.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $165K | 0.5% |
| DR Congo | $22K | 0.1% |
| South Africa | $20K | 0.1% |
| Kenya | $16K | 0.1% |
| France | $3K | 0% |
| Malaysia | $3K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5208
| 5208.52 | Printed medium plain cotton fabric | 85% |
| 5208.51 | Printed light plain cotton fabric | 7% |
| 5208.12 | Unbleached medium plain cotton fabric | 3.9% |
| 5208.31 | Dyed light plain cotton fabric | 1% |
| 5208.32 | Dyed medium plain cotton fabric | 0.8% |
| 5208.21 | Bleached light plain cotton fabric | 0.7% |
| 5208.39 | Dyed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.4% |
| 5208.22 | Bleached medium plain cotton fabric | 0.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5208.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.22 per kg, 34% below the world average of $9.39, 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.
Light cotton fabric exports from Tanzania
Exports of light cotton fabric by Tanzania reached $1.2 million in 2024 (223 tonnes). Malawi alone took 53% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest (+136% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Malawi | $630K | 53% |
| Kenya | $286K | 24% |
| South Africa | $128K | 11% |
| Uganda | $96K | 8.1% |
| Comoros | $16K | 1.4% |
| Czech Republic | $9K | 0.8% |
| Seychelles | $5K | 0.4% |
| Japan | $4K | 0.3% |
| Zambia | $2K | 0.2% |
| Italy | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania light cotton fabric imports (HS 5208): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 5208: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of light cotton fabric imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported light cotton fabric worth $30.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 53rd of 214 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 63% on 2023.
Which countries supply light cotton fabric to Tanzania?
China was the largest supplier with 53% of the value ($16.2 million), followed by India (45%) and Pakistan (1%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 346% on the year.
What is the average import price of light cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.22 per kg in 2024, 34% below the world average of $9.39 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of light cotton fabric to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $54.9 million in 2017 to $30.7 million in 2024, a fall of 44%. The peak was 2021 at $100.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $59.2 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export light cotton fabric?
Yes. Tanzania exported $1.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Malawi, Kenya and South Africa. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $29.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for light cotton fabric?
The HS code for light cotton fabric is heading 5208. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 5208.52 (85% of the value) and 5208.51 (7%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Tanzania. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World light cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
Light cotton fabric product types in Tanzania
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