Steel wire imports in Tanzania: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of steel wire by Tanzania reached $10.4 million in 2024 (12.2 thousand tonnes). That is 33% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $15.5 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 | $10.4M | 12.2K t |
| 2023 | $15.5M | 13.4K t |
| 2022 | $14.2M | 11.9K t |
| 2021 | $12.8M | 8.8K t |
| 2020 | $12.1M | 10.2K t |
| 2019 | $12.3M | 10.9K t |
| 2018 | $12.0M | 10.7K t |
| 2017 | $5.9M | 7.3K t |
Where Tanzania imports steel wire from
China alone supplied 57% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $6.0M | 58% |
| Kenya | $2.1M | 20% |
| Uganda | $1.2M | 11% |
| India | $326K | 3.1% |
| Egypt | $282K | 2.7% |
| South Africa | $219K | 2.1% |
| Hong Kong | $204K | 2% |
| Switzerland | $66K | 0.6% |
| Belgium | $50K | 0.5% |
| United Arab Emirates | $33K | 0.3% |
Product types under HS 7217
| 7217.20 | Zinc-coated steel wire | 63% |
| 7217.90 | Other steel wire | 26% |
| 7217.10 | Iron or non-alloy steel: wire, (not plated or coated), whether or not polished | 9.9% |
| 7217.30 | Base metal-coated wire | 1.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7217.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.86 per kg, 23% below the world average of $1.12, 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.
Steel wire exports from Tanzania
Tanzania exported $304 thousand of steel wire in 2024 (418 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Rwanda accounted for 93% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rwanda | $283K | 93% |
| Burundi | $9K | 3.1% |
| DR Congo | $7K | 2.3% |
| Uganda | $2K | 0.7% |
| Zambia | $2K | 0.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $0K | 0.1% |
| Mozambique | $0K | 0% |
| South Africa | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania steel wire imports (HS 7217): 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 7217: Wire of iron or non-alloy steel.
Common questions
What is the value of steel wire imported by Tanzania?
Tanzania imported steel wire worth $10.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 12.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 89th of 218 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 33% on 2023.
Which countries supply steel wire to Tanzania?
China was the largest supplier with 57% of the value ($6.0 million), followed by Kenya (20%) and Uganda (11%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 19 supplier countries in total. South Africa grew fastest among the top ten, up 345% on the year.
What is the average import price of steel wire per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.86 per kg in 2024, 23% below the world average of $1.12 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of steel wire to Tanzania changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.9 million in 2017 to $10.4 million in 2024, an increase of 77%. The peak was 2023 at $15.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $11.9 million a year.
Does Tanzania also export steel wire?
Yes. Tanzania exported $304 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Rwanda, Burundi and the DR Congo. On balance Tanzania is a net importer of this product, by about $10.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel wire?
The HS code for steel wire is heading 7217. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 7217.20 (63% of the value) and 7217.90 (26%).
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 wire product types in Tanzania
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