Steel drums imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of steel drums by Tanzania reached $4.3 million in 2024 (1.0 thousand tonnes). That is 19% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $5.6 million.
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 | $4.3M | 1.0K t |
| 2023 | $3.6M | 1.2K t |
| 2022 | $3.5M | 1.1K t |
| 2021 | $4.1M | 1.2K t |
| 2020 | $3.0M | 841 t |
| 2019 | $2.4M | 1.0K t |
| 2018 | $3.7M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $5.6M | 1.8K t |
Where Tanzania imports steel drums from
Most of the value came from Kenya (21%), China (18%), Italy (18%). Among the main suppliers, Italy grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $911K | 21% |
| China | $766K | 18% |
| Italy | $761K | 18% |
| India | $629K | 15% |
| United Arab Emirates | $593K | 14% |
| South Africa | $285K | 6.7% |
| Jordan | $110K | 2.6% |
| Maldives | $38K | 0.9% |
| Lebanon | $28K | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $18K | 0.4% |
Product types under HS 7310
| 7310.29 | Steel can (other) | 56% |
| 7310.10 | Steel drum | 42% |
| 7310.21 | Tinplate can | 2.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7310.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.05 per kg, close to the world average of $3.78.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Steel drums exports from Tanzania
Exports of steel drums by Tanzania reached $496 thousand in 2024 (215 tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (48%), Malawi (28%), United Arab Emirates (15%). Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest (+33% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $240K | 49% |
| Malawi | $138K | 28% |
| United Arab Emirates | $76K | 15% |
| DR Congo | $16K | 3.3% |
| India | $10K | 2.1% |
| Burundi | $6K | 1.2% |
| Comoros | $5K | 1.1% |
| Uganda | $1K | 0.3% |
| Central African Republic | $1K | 0.2% |
| Kenya | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania steel drums imports (HS 7310): 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 7310: Tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), of iron or steel, capacity not exceeding 300l, whether or not lined or heat-insulated.
Common questions
What is the value of steel drums imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported steel drums worth $4.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 110th of 221 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 19% on 2023.
Which countries supply steel drums to Tanzania?
Kenya was the largest supplier with 21% of the value ($911 thousand), followed by China (18%) and Italy (18%). The top three together account for 57%, out of 47 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 246% on the year.
What is the average import price of steel drums per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.05 per kg in 2024, 7% above the world average of $3.78 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of steel drums to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.6 million in 2017 to $4.3 million in 2024, a fall of 24%. The peak was 2017 at $5.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export steel drums?
Yes. Tanzania exported $496 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Malawi and the United Arab Emirates. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $3.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel drums?
The HS code for steel drums is heading 7310. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 7310.29 (56% of the value) and 7310.10 (42%).
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
Steel drums product types in Tanzania
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