Tobacco leaf exports from Tanzania: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, Tanzania exported tobacco leaf worth $500.1 million (108.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 135 countries. That is 55% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $500.1M | 108.0K t |
| 2023 | $322.8M | 76.1K t |
| 2022 | $216.7M | 53.6K t |
| 2021 | $209.3M | 44.6K t |
| 2020 | $246.9M | 55.0K t |
| 2019 | $277.7M | 55.9K t |
| 2018 | $266.0M | 51.9K t |
| 2017 | $260.3M | 63.1K t |
Where Tanzania exports tobacco leaf to
Most of it went to Belgium (19%), United Arab Emirates (14%), Germany (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 40%. Among the main buyer markets, Egypt grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | $92.7M | 19% |
| United Arab Emirates | $68.2M | 14% |
| Germany | $41.1M | 8.2% |
| Poland | $34.2M | 6.8% |
| Indonesia | $29.9M | 6% |
| Egypt | $29.8M | 6% |
| Turkey | $27.8M | 5.6% |
| South Korea | $21.7M | 4.3% |
| Japan | $20.8M | 4.2% |
| Zimbabwe | $15.4M | 3.1% |
Product types under HS 2401
| 2401.20 | Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped | 92% |
| 2401.30 | Tobacco waste | 5.1% |
| 2401.10 | Tobacco, (not stemmed or stripped) | 3.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2401.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.63 per kg, 22% below the world average of $5.95, 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.
Tobacco leaf imports to Tanzania
Tanzania imported $19.9 million of tobacco leaf in 2024 (3.8 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were Zimbabwe (28%), Belgium (19%), Bangladesh (18%). Among the main suppliers, Malawi grew fastest (+491% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $5.5M | 28% |
| Belgium | $3.7M | 19% |
| Bangladesh | $3.5M | 18% |
| India | $2.3M | 12% |
| Uganda | $1.7M | 8.4% |
| Malawi | $1.4M | 7.2% |
| Italy | $739K | 3.7% |
| United States | $224K | 1.1% |
| Bulgaria | $223K | 1.1% |
| Brazil | $189K | 1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Tanzania?
The shipment records behind Tanzania tobacco leaf exports (HS 2401): 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 2401: Tobacco, unmanufactured; tobacco refuse.
Common questions
What is the value of tobacco leaf exported by Tanzania?
Tanzania exported tobacco leaf worth $500.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 108.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 8th of 135 countries worldwide, with 4% of world exports. The value was up 55% on 2023.
Which countries buy tobacco leaf from Tanzania?
Belgium was the largest buyer with 19% of the value ($92.7 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (14%) and Germany (8%). The top three together account for 40%, out of 60 buyer countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 163% on the year.
What is the average export price of tobacco leaf per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.63 per kg in 2024, 22% below the world average of $5.95 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of tobacco leaf from Tanzania changed since 2017?
Exports went from $260.3 million in 2017 to $500.1 million in 2024, an increase of 92%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $287.5 million a year.
Does Tanzania also import tobacco leaf?
Yes. Tanzania imported $19.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Zimbabwe, Belgium and Bangladesh. On balance Tanzania is a net exporter of this product, by about $480.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for tobacco leaf?
The HS code for tobacco leaf is heading 2401. In Tanzania the largest six-digit codes were 2401.20 (92% of the value) and 2401.30 (5%).
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
Tobacco leaf 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.