Plastic waste exports from Tanzania: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of plastic waste by Tanzania reached $17.5 million in 2024 (35.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is 37% more than in 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 .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17.5M | 35.0K t |
| 2023 | $12.7M | 25.8K t |
| 2022 | $15.2M | 20.7K t |
| 2021 | $8.0M | 17.5K t |
| 2020 | $7.3M | 16.2K t |
| 2019 | $6.3M | 17.4K t |
| 2018 | $1.2M | 10.4K t |
| 2017 | $6.4M | 18.9K t |
Where Tanzania exports plastic waste to
Most of it went to Morocco (24%), China (19%), Vietnam (12%). Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | $4.1M | 24% |
| China | $3.3M | 19% |
| Vietnam | $2.1M | 12% |
| United States | $1.8M | 11% |
| Turkey | $1.4M | 8.2% |
| South Africa | $918K | 5.3% |
| Germany | $728K | 4.2% |
| India | $727K | 4.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $675K | 3.9% |
| Italy | $345K | 2% |
Product types under HS 3915
| 3915.10 | Polyethylene scrap | 53% |
| 3915.90 | Plastic waste (other) | 47% |
| 3915.20 | Polystyrene scrap | 0.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3915.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.50 per kg, close to the world average of $0.42.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Plastic waste imports to Tanzania
Imports of plastic waste by Tanzania reached $1.9 million in 2024 (2.5 thousand tonnes). China alone supplied 80% of it. Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.5M | 80% |
| India | $328K | 18% |
| Malaysia | $29K | 1.6% |
| Hong Kong | $3K | 0.2% |
| Netherlands | $3K | 0.1% |
| Comoros | $2K | 0.1% |
| South Africa | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania plastic waste exports (HS 3915): 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 3915: Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics.
Common questions
What is the value of plastic waste exported by Tanzania?
Tanzania exported plastic waste worth $17.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 35.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 35th of 178 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 37% on 2023.
Which countries buy plastic waste from Tanzania?
Morocco was the largest buyer with 24% of the value ($4.1 million), followed by China (19%) and Vietnam (12%). The top three together account for 54%, out of 23 buyer countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 150% on the year.
What is the average export price of plastic waste per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.50 per kg in 2024, 19% above the world average of $0.42 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of plastic waste from Tanzania changed since 2017?
Exports went from $6.4 million in 2017 to $17.5 million in 2024, an increase of 175%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $9.3 million a year.
Does Tanzania also import plastic waste?
Yes. Tanzania imported $1.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, India and Malaysia. On balance Tanzania is a net exporter of this product, by about $15.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for plastic waste?
The HS code for plastic waste is heading 3915. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 3915.10 (53% of the value) and 3915.90 (47%).
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
Plastic waste product types in Tanzania
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.