Public transit buses imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of public transit buses by Tanzania reached $91.8 million in 2024 (15.0 thousand tonnes). Value rose 18% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% 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 | $91.8M | 15.0K t |
| 2023 | $78.0M | 13.2K t |
| 2022 | $72.9M | 10.9K t |
| 2021 | $62.2M | 9.6K t |
| 2020 | $47.6M | 6.7K t |
| 2019 | $51.2M | 7.7K t |
| 2018 | $61.2M | 6.7K t |
| 2017 | $49.0M | 6.8K t |
Where Tanzania imports public transit buses from
The largest suppliers were China (35%), Japan (35%), India (18%). Among the main suppliers, Kenya grew fastest (+632% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $32.2M | 35% |
| Japan | $32.0M | 35% |
| India | $16.1M | 18% |
| Hong Kong | $4.4M | 4.8% |
| Kenya | $4.4M | 4.8% |
| South Africa | $938K | 1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $492K | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | $427K | 0.5% |
| Singapore | $308K | 0.3% |
| Thailand | $138K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 8702
| 8702.10 | Diesel buses | 94% |
| 8702.90 | Buses (other power types) | 3.5% |
| 8702.20 | Hybrid diesel-electric buses | 1.7% |
| 8702.30 | Hybrid diesel-electric buses (used) | 0.7% |
| 8702.40 | Electric buses | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8702.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.11 per kg, 49% below the world average of $11.87, 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.
Public transit buses exports from Tanzania
Exports of public transit buses by Tanzania reached $6.0 million in 2024 (1.2 thousand tonnes). Zambia alone took 58% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Zambia grew fastest (+480% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $3.5M | 58% |
| Uganda | $710K | 12% |
| United Arab Emirates | $656K | 11% |
| Malawi | $598K | 10% |
| Zimbabwe | $216K | 3.6% |
| Rwanda | $165K | 2.8% |
| DR Congo | $68K | 1.1% |
| South Sudan | $47K | 0.8% |
| Mozambique | $24K | 0.4% |
| Turkey | $6K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania public transit buses imports (HS 8702): 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 8702: Vehicles; public transport passenger type.
Common questions
What is the value of public transit buses imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported public transit buses worth $91.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 15.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 49th of 210 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 18% on 2023.
Which countries supply public transit buses to Tanzania?
China was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($32.2 million), followed by Japan (35%) and India (18%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. South Africa grew fastest among the top ten, up 795% on the year.
What is the average import price of public transit buses per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.11 per kg in 2024, 49% below the world average of $11.87 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of public transit buses to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $49.0 million in 2017 to $91.8 million in 2024, an increase of 87%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $64.2 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export public transit buses?
Yes. Tanzania exported $6.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $85.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for public transit buses?
The HS code for public transit buses is heading 8702. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 8702.10 (94% of the value) and 8702.90 (4%).
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 public transit buses trade: top importers and exporters
Public transit buses 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.