Shoe polish imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Tanzania imported $2.0 million of shoe polish in 2024 (629 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 7% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $3.3 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.0M | 629 t |
| 2023 | $2.2M | 562 t |
| 2022 | $1.3M | 489 t |
| 2021 | $3.3M | 677 t |
| 2020 | $1.6M | 415 t |
| 2019 | $1.7M | 457 t |
| 2018 | $2.1M | 434 t |
| 2017 | $1.4M | 354 t |
Where Tanzania imports shoe polish from
Kenya alone supplied 81% of it. Among the main suppliers, Kenya grew fastest (+32% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $1.6M | 81% |
| China | $200K | 9.8% |
| Turkey | $145K | 7.1% |
| India | $21K | 1% |
| Italy | $13K | 0.6% |
| South Africa | $8K | 0.4% |
| Poland | $0K | 0% |
| United Arab Emirates | $0K | 0% |
| United States | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.23 per kg, 47% below the world average of $6.07, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania shoe polish imports (HS 3405.10): 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 3405.10: Polishes, creams and similar preparations: for footwear or leather, excluding waxes of heading no. 3404.
Common questions
What is the value of shoe polish imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported shoe polish worth $2.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 629 tonnes. That ranks it 38th of 205 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 7% on 2023.
Which countries supply shoe polish to Tanzania?
Kenya was the largest supplier with 81% of the value ($1.6 million), followed by China (10%) and Turkey (7%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 9 supplier countries in total. Kenya grew fastest among the top ten, up 32% on the year.
What is the average import price of shoe polish per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.23 per kg in 2024, 47% below the world average of $6.07 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of shoe polish to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.4 million in 2017 to $2.0 million in 2024, an increase of 42%. The peak was 2021 at $3.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for shoe polish?
The HS code for shoe polish is subheading 3405.10. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3405 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Tanzania, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
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