Printed books imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Tanzania imported printed books worth $22.4 million (26.0 thousand tonnes). That is 9% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $22.4M | 26.0K t |
| 2023 | $24.5M | 5.8K t |
| 2022 | $23.0M | 8.1K t |
| 2021 | $19.4M | 8.5K t |
| 2020 | $15.1M | 5.9K t |
| 2019 | $22.7M | 6.5K t |
| 2018 | $25.6M | 6.6K t |
| 2017 | $13.5M | 5.7K t |
Where Tanzania imports printed books from
India alone supplied 52% of it. Among the main suppliers, Kenya grew fastest (+121% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $11.7M | 52% |
| China | $2.7M | 12% |
| United Kingdom | $1.8M | 8% |
| Kenya | $1.4M | 6.3% |
| South Korea | $1.1M | 4.9% |
| United Arab Emirates | $804K | 3.6% |
| United States | $501K | 2.2% |
| Ireland | $473K | 2.1% |
| South Africa | $420K | 1.9% |
| Turkey | $258K | 1.2% |
Product types under HS 4901
| 4901.99 | Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91 | 60% |
| 4901.10 | Printed single sheets and leaflets | 39% |
| 4901.91 | Printed dictionaries and encyclopaedias | 0.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 4901.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.86 per kg, 91% 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.
Printed books exports from Tanzania
In 2024, Tanzania exported printed books worth $370 thousand (104 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were DR Congo (21%), Zambia (17%), United States (15%). Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $76K | 21% |
| Zambia | $61K | 17% |
| United States | $56K | 15% |
| Rwanda | $29K | 7.7% |
| France | $21K | 5.6% |
| Eritrea | $21K | 5.6% |
| Uganda | $21K | 5.5% |
| India | $14K | 3.7% |
| Germany | $13K | 3.5% |
| Malawi | $12K | 3.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania printed books imports (HS 4901): 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 4901: Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets.
Common questions
What is the value of printed books imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported printed books worth $22.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 26.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 69th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 9% on 2023.
Which countries supply printed books to Tanzania?
India was the largest supplier with 52% of the value ($11.7 million), followed by China (12%) and the United Kingdom (8%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 90 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 317% on the year.
What is the average import price of printed books per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.86 per kg in 2024, 91% below the world average of $9.39 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of printed books to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.5 million in 2017 to $22.4 million in 2024, an increase of 66%. The peak was 2018 at $25.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $20.8 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export printed books?
Yes. Tanzania exported $370 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Zambia and the United States. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $22.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for printed books?
The HS code for printed books is heading 4901. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 4901.99 (60% of the value) and 4901.10 (39%).
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
Printed books 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.