Mobile phones imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of mobile phones by Tanzania reached $56.9 million in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). Value rose 28% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 12% 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 | $56.9M | 1.7K t |
| 2023 | $44.5M | 1.2K t |
| 2022 | $27.8M | 548 t |
| 2021 | $56.3M | 1,000 t |
| 2020 | $36.3M | 1.1K t |
| 2019 | $34.7M | 977 t |
| 2018 | $38.4M | 590 t |
| 2017 | $25.0M | 864 t |
Where Tanzania imports mobile phones from
China alone supplied 79% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+90% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $44.7M | 79% |
| Vietnam | $3.8M | 6.8% |
| Hong Kong | $3.8M | 6.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $2.8M | 5% |
| India | $867K | 1.5% |
| Pakistan | $249K | 0.4% |
| United States | $104K | 0.2% |
| South Korea | $94K | 0.2% |
| France | $65K | 0.1% |
| South Africa | $62K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $33.99 per kg, 89% below the world average of $321.06, 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.
Mobile phones exports from Tanzania
In 2024, Tanzania exported mobile phones worth $489 thousand (7 tonnes). Most of it went to Nigeria (37%), United Arab Emirates (29%), Kenya (19%). Among the main buyer markets, Kenya grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | $182K | 37% |
| United Arab Emirates | $144K | 29% |
| Kenya | $91K | 19% |
| Mozambique | $47K | 9.6% |
| Netherlands | $8K | 1.7% |
| South Africa | $7K | 1.5% |
| Germany | $3K | 0.6% |
| Italy | $2K | 0.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | $1K | 0.3% |
| Finland | $1K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania mobile phones imports (HS 8517.12): 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 8517.12: Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Common questions
What is the value of mobile phones imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported mobile phones worth $56.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 116th of 220 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply mobile phones to Tanzania?
China was the largest supplier with 79% of the value ($44.7 million), followed by Vietnam (7%) and Hong Kong (7%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 55 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 875% on the year.
What is the average import price of mobile phones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $33.99 per kg in 2024, 89% below the world average of $321.06 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of mobile phones to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $25.0 million in 2017 to $56.9 million in 2024, an increase of 128%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $40.0 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export mobile phones?
Yes. Tanzania exported $489 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and Kenya. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $56.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for mobile phones?
The HS code for mobile phones is subheading 8517.12. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8517 page.
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
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.