In March 2025, Tanzania’s external sector recorded a significant improvement, with the current account deficit narrowing to USD 2.02 billion, down from USD 2.93 billion in March 2024, marking a 31.1% year-on-year reduction. The improvement was driven by robust export growth, as exports of goods and services rose to USD 16.51 billion, up from USD 14.08 billion a year earlier, representing a 17.2% increase. Within services, travel receipts—mainly tourism—accounted for 56.7% of total service earnings, reaching USD 3.93 billion, supported by a 12% rise in tourist arrivals to 2.15 million visitors. On the import side, service payments increased to USD 2.67 billion, up by 19.4%, largely due to higher freight and transport costs, which made up 53.3% of service imports. Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves rose to USD 5.69 billion, enough to cover 4.6 months of imports, exceeding both the national (4.0 months) and EAC (4.5 months) benchmarks.

1. Current Account Performance (March 2025)

The current account deficit narrowed significantly by 31.1% year-on-year, driven by strong export growth, particularly in tourism, gold, and transport. Reserves now cover 4.6 months of imports, exceeding both national and EAC thresholds.

2. Export – Service Receipts by Category

*Includes construction, insurance, financial, telecom, computer services, IP charges, etc.

Travel receipts (tourism) dominate service exports, driven by a 12% increase in international arrivals, from 1.92 million in 2024 to 2.15 million in 2025.

3. Import – Service Payments by Category

Service payments rose sharply by 19.4%, mainly due to increased freight costs, reflecting rising import activity and global shipping rates.

As of March 2025, Tanzania’s external sector performance showed strong resilience. The current account deficit narrowed significantly to USD 2.02 billion, supported by a 17.2% increase in exports, especially in tourism and gold. On the import side, rising freight and service costs pushed service payments up by nearly 20%, yet the country maintained a healthy reserve position covering 4.6 months of imports.

Key Insights:

1. Current Account Deficit is Shrinking – A Positive Signal

• The current account deficit narrowed from USD 2.93 billion (March 2024) to USD 2.02 billion (March 2025) — an improvement of 31.1%.

This shows: Tanzania is earning more from exports, especially services like tourism and goods like gold, helping reduce reliance on foreign borrowing or reserve drawdowns.

2. Tourism is Driving Export Growth

• Service receipts rose to USD 6.92 billion, with tourism (travel services) accounting for 56.7%.
• Tourist arrivals increased from 1.92 million (2024) to 2.15 million (2025) — a 12% growth.

This shows: The tourism sector is rebounding strongly, contributing significantly to foreign exchange inflows and supporting the current account.

3. Higher Import Costs, Especially for Transport (Freight)

• Service payments jumped by 19.4%, from USD 2.24 billion to USD 2.67 billion, mainly due to rising freight/transport costs (53.3% of service imports).

This shows: While exports are improving, import-related costs are also rising, possibly due to increased import volumes and global shipping price pressures.

4. Foreign Reserves are Healthy

• Foreign reserves increased to USD 5.69 billion, covering 4.6 months of projected imports, above both:
  • The national benchmark (4.0 months)
  • The EAC benchmark (4.5 months)

This shows: Tanzania has a strong external buffer, allowing it to meet foreign obligations even under global shocks.

Conclusion

Tanzania’s external sector in March 2025 demonstrated improved stability with a shrinking current account deficit, strong tourism recovery, and growing exports. Despite rising freight costs increasing service import bills, the country maintains solid foreign reserves, ensuring resilience in external payments.

Government Securities and Interbank Cash Markets Thrive

In March 2025, Tanzania’s financial markets demonstrated robust investor confidence and liquidity strength, as shown by the performance of the government securities and interbank cash markets. The Bank of Tanzania conducted two Treasury bill auctions with a combined offer of TZS 218 billion, attracting bids worth TZS 662.5 billion, more than 3 times the offer, indicating high demand. The weighted average yield for T-bills dropped from 11.93% in February 2025 to 10.10%, reflecting investor optimism and lower inflation expectations. Similarly, the Treasury bond market saw strong participation, with 5-year and 15-year bonds oversubscribed, receiving TZS 200.5 billion and TZS 267.7 billion in bids respectively. Meanwhile, the Interbank Cash Market (IBCM) recorded total transactions of TZS 1,757.7 billion, dominated by 7-day maturities, with the average interbank rate slightly increasing to 8.12% from 8.06% in February. These developments underline a stable and active financial market environment supporting fiscal and monetary policy objectives in 2025.

1. Government Securities Market

Treasury Bills (T-Bills)

• In March 2025, the Bank of Tanzania conducted two T-bill auctions, each with a tender size of TZS 109 billion.
• These auctions were heavily oversubscribed, receiving bids totaling TZS 662.5 billion.
• Out of these, TZS 210.8 billion were accepted.
• The weighted average yield (WAY) dropped from 11.93% (Feb 2025) to 10.10% (Mar 2025), reflecting increased investor demand.

Treasury Bonds

• The Bank also held auctions for:
  • 5-year bond: Tender size TZS 77.8 billion → received TZS 200.5 billion in bids → TZS 151.6 billion accepted.
  • 15-year bond: Tender size TZS 148.4 billion → received TZS 267.7 billion in bids → TZS 146.5 billion accepted.
• The yield to maturity:
  • 5-year bond: Increased to 13.14%.
  • 15-year bond: Slightly decreased to 14.63%.

Implication: High demand for government securities shows strong investor confidence and liquidity in the market.

2. Interbank Cash Market (IBCM)

• The IBCM remained vibrant and active in facilitating short-term liquidity among banks.
• Total transactions in March 2025 amounted to TZS 1,757.7 billion, down from TZS 1,990.1 billion in February.
• The 7-day maturity transactions were dominant, making up 50.9% of all trades.
• Overnight transactions accounted for 7.3%.
• The overall interbank cash market interest rate slightly increased to 8.12% from 8.06% in February 2025.

Implication: The slight rate increase and high transaction volumes reflect active liquidity management by banks despite some market segmentation.

Summary Table

The data from the Government Securities Market and the Interbank Cash Market (IBCM) in Tanzania for March 2025 tells us several key things about the financial market conditions and investor behavior:

1. High Investor Confidence and Liquidity in the Market

• Oversubscription of Treasury bill and bond auctions (bids far exceeded offers) shows:
  • Strong investor demand for government securities.
  • Abundant liquidity in the financial system—investors, especially banks and pension funds, have cash to invest.
• Falling T-bill yields from 11.93% to 10.10% signal:
  • Investors are willing to accept lower returns, indicating confidence in macroeconomic stability and low inflation expectations.

2. Balanced Government Financing Strategy

• The government is actively using the domestic financial market to fund its budget through:
  • T-bills (short-term needs).
  • Bonds (medium to long-term financing).
• This approach helps reduce reliance on external debt and manage domestic borrowing costs.

3. Active Interbank Liquidity Management

• The IBCM transacted TZS 1.76 trillion, although slightly lower than the previous month.
• The interbank rate slightly rose to 8.12%, which still remains within the Bank of Tanzania’s policy corridor (centered around the 6% CBR ±2%).
• This suggests:
  • Banks are effectively managing short-term liquidity needs.
  • The market remains stable and well-functioning, with no significant liquidity stress.

4. Slight Yield Adjustments Reflect Market Dynamics

• The increase in 5-year bond yield (13.14%) and slight drop in 15-year yield (14.63%) show:
  • Investors may perceive more risk or uncertainty in the medium term.
  • But still maintain confidence in long-term fiscal management and economic outlook.

In Simple Terms:

• Investors trust the government and are keen to lend it money.
• The financial system is liquid and active.
• The central bank is maintaining a stable monetary environment.
• Tanzania’s domestic market is maturing as a reliable source of financing for the government.

Tanzania’s food inflation rose to 5.4% in March 2025, a slight increase from 5.0% in February, but still remains below the country’s long-term average of 7.7% recorded between 2010 and 2025. This moderate inflation level reflects relative price stability in the country’s food sector despite global and regional challenges. Compared to its East African neighbors, Tanzania ranks 8th, performing better than Kenya (6.6%) and Ethiopia (11.9%), but trailing behind Uganda (2.0%) and Rwanda (3.5%). On a continental scale, Tanzania stands in the middle tier, significantly outperforming high-inflation countries like South Sudan (106%), Zimbabwe (105%), and Malawi (37.7%), indicating a relatively stable macroeconomic and food supply environment.

Tanzania Food Inflation: March 2025

• Current Rate: 5.4% (year-on-year)
• Previous Month: 5.0%
• Historical Average (2010–2025): 7.7%
• Historical High: 27.84% in Jan 2012
• Historical Low: 0.10% in Mar 2019

This shows that Tanzania’s food inflation is currently below its long-term average, suggesting moderate food price pressures compared to historical trends.

Tanzania in Africa (Ranking)

Tanzania ranks 18th out of 42 African countries listed in terms of food inflation (from highest to lowest), placing it in the mid-range.

• Countries like South Sudan (106%) and Zimbabwe (105%) have extremely high food inflation.
• Djibouti (-2.9%) and Somalia (-1.5%) are currently experiencing food deflation.

Tanzania in East Africa

Tanzania compares with selected East African countries:

Tanzania ranks 8th among East African countries based on current food inflation. It is lower than Kenya (6.6%), but higher than Uganda (2%) and Rwanda (3.5%).

Top 10 African Countries with Highest Food Inflation (Mar 2025)

These countries are facing severe food price pressures, likely due to economic instability, currency depreciation, or supply chain issues.

Summary Insights:

• Tanzania's food inflation of 5.4% is moderate by African standards.
• It is below regional giants like Kenya and Ethiopia, but above Uganda and Rwanda.
• Compared to Africa’s average, Tanzania sits in the middle tier for food inflation.

Tanzania’s food inflation (5.4% in March 2025) with several important things at national, regional, and continental levels:

1. National Insights (Tanzania)

• Moderate Pressure: Tanzania's food inflation is relatively moderate compared to its historical average of 7.7%.
• Stability Compared to History: It’s far below its peak in 2012 (27.84%) and shows price stability in recent months.
• Rising Trend: There is a slight increase from 5.0% in the previous month, suggesting growing food cost pressures—possibly due to seasonal factors, fuel prices, or currency trends.

2. Regional Comparison (East Africa)

• Tanzania ranks 8th in East Africa in terms of food inflation.
• Lower than Kenya (6.6%) and Ethiopia (11.9%), meaning Tanzania is managing food prices better than some key neighbors.
• Higher than Uganda (2%) and Rwanda (3.5%), which may indicate areas for improvement in food supply chains or agricultural productivity.
• Suggests Tanzania’s inflation is under control, but with room for better performance compared to top regional performers.

3. Continental Position (Africa)

• Tanzania ranks 18th out of 42 African countries in food inflation – putting it in the middle of the pack.
• It’s far better than countries in crisis like Zimbabwe (105%), South Sudan (106%), Malawi (37.7%), and Ghana (26.5%).
• Indicates relative economic and price stability compared to many African nations struggling with hyperinflation or conflict.

Overall Interpretation

• Tanzania is in a stable but cautious position.
• Food prices are increasing, but not alarmingly.
• Compared to peers in East Africa and Africa:
  • Tanzania is doing better than many.
  • But it can still learn from countries with lower inflation, like Uganda or Rwanda, in managing supply and price controls.

Between 2010 and 2019, Tanzania recorded an impressive average real GDP growth rate of 6.3%, positioning it among Africa’s top five fastest-growing economies—surpassing regional peers such as Kenya (5.9%), Uganda (5.4%), and Ghana (6.2%), and trailing only behind Ethiopia (9.4%), Rwanda (7.8%), and Côte d’Ivoire (7.5%). Looking ahead, Tanzania is projected to maintain a strong growth trajectory with an average GDP growth rate of 5.9% from 2025 to 2027, slightly below its historical performance but ahead of several large economies, including Nigeria (3.8%) and South Africa (1.8%). While not leading the continent, Tanzania remains a key growth driver in East Africa, alongside Rwanda (8.5%), Uganda (6.2%), and Zambia (6.5%), reflecting continued resilience and investment momentum in sectors like construction, services, and agriculture.

Tanzania’s Position

• 2010–2019 average growth: 6.3%, among the top 5 in Africa.
• 2025–2027 average projection: 5.9%, maintaining a strong position, but slightly below past performance.
• Trajectory: Increasing growth trend:
  • 2023: 5.1%
  • 2024e: 5.5%
  • 2025f: 5.7%
  • 2026f: 5.9%
  • 2027f: 6.1%​

Regional Context

• Tanzania is one of the key drivers of growth in the East African Community alongside Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.
• East Africa is projected to remain the fastest-growing subregion, with average growth above 6.8% in 2026–27

Top Performers: Real GDP Growth (2010–2019)

Top Projected Performers: Real GDP Growth (2025–2027 average)

The real GDP growth data from 2010 to 2027 for Tanzania, as detailed in the Africa’s Pulse (Spring 2025), reveals the following key insights when comparing Tanzania to other African countries

1. Strong Historical Performance (2010–2019)

• Tanzania averaged 6.3% GDP growth, ranking it among the top 5 fastest-growing economies in Africa during that period.
• It outperformed Kenya (5.9%), Ghana (6.2%), Senegal (5.7%), and Uganda (5.4%), showing robust and consistent economic expansion driven by public investment, services, and agriculture.
• Only Ethiopia (9.4%), Rwanda (7.8%), and Côte d’Ivoire (7.5%) performed better during this decade.

Interpretation: Tanzania was one of the most stable and rapidly growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 2010s.

2. Projected Growth (2025–2027): Slightly Below the Top Tier

• While still strong, Tanzania’s projected growth places it just below the top-tier performers.
• Tanzania remains ahead of larger economies like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, which are forecast to grow more slowly due to structural and fiscal challenges.

Interpretation: Tanzania will maintain steady, healthy growth but may not lead the continent as before unless it enhances reforms or investment levels like Rwanda or Ethiopia.

3. East African Regional Context

• Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya are driving East Africa’s performance.
• Among these, Rwanda leads, followed by Uganda, then Tanzania, and finally Kenya.
• Tanzania is expected to grow at or above 5.9%, while Kenya is forecast to grow below 5.5%, giving Tanzania a relative advantage.

 Interpretation: Tanzania is a regional growth leader, though it is slightly behind Rwanda and Uganda in projected growth pace.

Overall Message for Tanzania

• Historically strong and steady economic performer.
• Consistently among the fastest-growing economies in Africa from 2010–2027.
• Faces competition from smaller but faster-growing economies (e.g., Rwanda, Senegal, Ethiopia).
• To remain competitive, Tanzania may need to boost productivity, investment, and governance reforms.

Tanzania has made significant progress in reducing inflation over the past decade. From an average annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate of 7.1% during 2010–2019, the country is projected to achieve a much lower and more stable rate of 4.0% over 2025–2027. This improvement reflects effective monetary and fiscal management, helping Tanzania transition into the group of low-inflation economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. For context, inflation is projected to remain high in countries like Nigeria (10%+), Ghana (8.0%), and Zambia (8.0%), while Tanzania outperforms even some of its regional peers, including Uganda (5.0%) and Kenya (5.5%). From 4.4% in 2022, CPI in Tanzania declined to 3.1% in 2024, and is expected to stabilize around 4.0% by 2027, underscoring its growing macroeconomic resilience and investor appeal.

Tanzania is expected to maintain low and stable inflation between 3.1% and 4.0% from 2024 to 2027, indicating macroeconomic stability and strong monetary policy performance​.

Tanzania’s Position and Implications

• Historically (2010–2019), Tanzania had moderately high inflation (7.1%).
• In the forecast period (2025–2027), inflation is projected to stabilize around 4.0%, which is well below the regional average and better than many high-inflation economies.
• Compared to regional peers:
  • Lower than Uganda (5.0%)
  • Lower than Zambia (8.0%)
  • Lower than South Africa (4.6%)
  • Comparable to Rwanda (4.3%)

Top African Countries by CPI Annual Change (Inflation Rate)

Highest Inflation Countries (2010–2019 average)

These countries faced persistent inflationary pressures over the decade:

Tanzania recorded an average annual CPI of 7.1%, slightly higher than Uganda (6.2%) and comparable to Zambia (8.8%). This places Tanzania among the moderately high-inflation economies in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 2010s.

CPI Trends and Projections (2022–2027)

Tanzania's annual CPI (inflation) showed the following trend:

Comparison with other notable countries (2027 projections)

Tanzania is transitioning from a moderately high inflation environment to a low and stable inflation economy, which enhances its macroeconomic credibility, investment attractiveness, and household purchasing power.

1. Tanzania Has Tamed Inflation Over Time

• From 2010 to 2019, Tanzania experienced moderately high inflation, averaging 7.1% annually.
• This level was higher than Uganda (6.2%) and much higher than Benin or Côte d’Ivoire (often under 3%), reflecting structural challenges like food price volatility, energy costs, and monetary expansion.

2. A Clear Downward Trend in Inflation

• Tanzania has achieved significant inflation reduction:
  • 2022: 4.4%
  • 2023: 3.8%
  • 2024e: 3.1%
  • 2025f–2027f: Stabilizing at ~4.0%
• This puts Tanzania in the low-inflation group in Sub-Saharan Africa, joining countries like Rwanda (4.3%) and Benin (1.5%).

3. Tanzania Performs Better Than Many Peers

• In 2027, Tanzania’s CPI of 4.0% will be:
  • Lower than Nigeria (10%+), Ghana (8.0%), and Zambia (8.0%)
  • Lower than regional average, with many countries still facing double-digit inflation
• This shows Tanzania’s strong monetary policy and price stability, even as others still struggle with inflationary pressures.

💡 What It Tells Us

• Tanzania has made real progress in macroeconomic management.
• It is now one of the more stable economies in East and Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of inflation, which:
  • Supports consumer purchasing power
  • Encourages investment
  • Enables predictable economic planning

In short, Tanzania has moved from a high-inflation past to a low-inflation future, showing maturity in economic policy and resilience compared to many of its African peers.

Tanzania’s investment landscape experienced remarkable growth between 2023 and 2024. The number of registered investment projects surged by 71%, from 526 projects in 2023 to 901 projects in 2024. This expansion was accompanied by a significant rise in committed capital investments, which grew by 62.8%, increasing from $5.72 billion in 2023 to $9.31 billion in 2024. In addition, employment opportunities linked to these investments rose sharply, with 212,293 jobs created in 2024, compared to 137,010 jobs in 2023—an increase of approximately 55%. This upward trend reflects strong investor confidence and supportive government policies, as shown by the rising number of permits and approvals issued: work permits grew by 40.8%, Certificates of Incentives by 71.3%, and land rights approvals by 22.2%. Despite a slight decrease in residence permits (-11.4%) and TRA-approved exemptions (-11.9%), the overall environment signals a robust and broad-based investment expansion in Tanzania.

Investment-Related Permits, Licenses, and Approvals: Tanzania 2023 vs 2024

1. Overall Growth in Investment Projects

• 2023: 526 projects
• 2024: 901 projects
• Increase: +375 projects
• Growth Rate: +71.3%

This 71% increase in investment projects explains why permit and approval activities also expanded.

2. Permits and Approvals Breakdown

3. Detailed Explanation

Immigration (Residence Permits)

• Decrease: From 5,540 (2023) to 4,908 (2024)
• Why decrease?
  • Possibly stricter immigration rules or a shift towards local employment (hence, fewer expatriate residence permits).

Labour Office (Work Permits)

• Increase: From 5,272 to 7,425 permits
• Reason:
  • Reflects more foreign professionals being hired due to investment project expansions.
  • +40.8% growth shows demand for skilled foreign workers.

TRA (Tax Exemptions Approved)

• Decrease: From 268 to 236 approvals
• Reason:
  • Possible tightening of exemption policies to protect tax revenues.
  • Shows slight decline of -11.9%.

NIDA (Legal Identity Cards/NIN)

• Increase: From 387 to 457 cards
• Meaning:
  • More legal identification activities linked to newly registered workers and businesses.
  • +18.1% increase.

TIC (Certificates of Incentives)

• Massive Increase: From 526 to 901 certificates
• Meaning:
  • Directly matches the 71% jump in investment projects.
  • Reflects strong government support through fiscal/tax incentives to investors.

Ministry of Lands (Derivative Rights)

• Increase: From 54 to 66 approvals
• Meaning:
  • More investors are acquiring land rights for their projects (factories, offices, farms, etc.).
  • +22.2% growth.

4. Other Major Impacts Related to the Growth

• Jobs: An additional 75,283 jobs created in 2024.
• Capital: An additional $3.59 billion invested.

Key Takeaways:

• Strong increases in permits for work, incentives, and land rights support the surge in new investments.
• Work permits (+40.8%) and Certificates of Incentives (+71.3%) are especially notable.
• Residence permits (-11.4%) and TRA exemptions (-11.9%) slightly declined, reflecting more selective approvals.
• Overall investment environment is expanding rapidly, leading to more capital, more projects, and more employment opportunities in Tanzania.

Trend on Tanzania’s Investment Growth (Based on Permits, Projects, Capital, and Jobs Data)

1. Strong Positive Growth Trend

• Projects increased by 71%.
• Capital investment increased by 62.8%.
• Jobs created increased by 55%.

This shows that investment is expanding strongly across all important dimensions:
more projects, more money coming in, and more jobs being created.

2. Administrative Efficiency and Policy Support

• Certificates of Incentives from TIC grew by 71.3%, exactly matching the project growth.
• This suggests that Tanzania's government (through TIC and other agencies) is working actively to:
  • Attract investors
  • Process approvals faster
  • Offer incentives to stimulate investment

Policy and administrative support are aligning well with investment growth needs.

3. Higher Demand for Labor (Local and Foreign)

• Work permits rose by 40.8%, indicating:
  • Higher demand for foreign technical experts
  • More foreign companies bringing specialists to Tanzania
• Meanwhile, local hiring is also rising as shown by the 212,293 new jobs created.

Investment is creating employment opportunities both for Tanzanians and expatriates.

4. More Demand for Land and Legal Compliance

• Derivative rights (land ownership rights) approvals increased by 22.2%.
• NIDA ID cards increased by 18.1%.

This shows that investors are securing land for long-term operations and formalizing their presence legally (getting IDs/NINs for employees).

5. Selective Tightening in Some Areas

• Residence permits (-11.4%) and TRA exemption approvals (-11.9%) dropped.
• This could mean:
  • The government is being more selective in approving tax exemptions and permanent residence.
  • Encouraging local hiring and domestic value creation instead of over-depending on expatriates and incentives.

Tanzania is balancing growth with better controls to maximize local economic benefits.

🔵 Summary of the Trend

✅ Tanzania’s investment environment is growing strongly and broadly.
✅ Government facilitation and private sector response are in sync.
✅ Investments are leading to real economy benefits: more jobs, more money, more businesses.
✅ The country is carefully managing some parts (like residence permits and tax exemptions) to safeguard national interests.
Tanzania is solidifying itself as a growing investment destination in 2024 with sustainable, job-creating, and capital-attracting growth trends.

Between 2020 and 2024, Tanzania experienced a remarkable surge in investment activities, signaling growing confidence in the country's economic prospects. The number of projects registered by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) increased from 207 in 2020 to 901 in 2024 — a 335% growth over five years. At the same time, total capital investment rose sharply from $1.1 billion to $9.3 billion, marking a 745% increase. Job creation linked to these projects also soared by 1,121%, with employment opportunities growing from 17,385 in 2020 to 212,293 in 2024. This rapid expansion reflects both domestic and foreign investor confidence, with domestic projects growing by 402%, foreign projects by 399%, and joint ventures by 184%. Key sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, commercial real estate, transportation, and telecommunications attracted the largest share of capital and created substantial jobs, demonstrating Tanzania’s ongoing transformation into a vibrant investment hub.

Key Figures:

• Total Projects: Increased from 207 (2020) to 901 (2024) — +335% growth.
• Domestic Projects: Increased from 64 (2020) to 321 (2024) — +402% growth.
• Foreign Projects: Increased from 81 (2020) to 404 (2024) — +399% growth.
• Joint Venture Projects: Increased from 62 (2020) to 176 (2024) — +184% growth.
• Capital Investment: Rose from $1.1 billion (2020) to $9.3 billion (2024) — +745% growth.
• Jobs Created: Rose from 17,385 (2020) to 212,293 (2024) — +1,121% growth.
• Top Investment Sectors by Capital (2024): Manufacturing ($2.19 billion), Agriculture ($1.89 billion), Commercial Buildings ($788.86 million).
• Top Sources of FDI (2024): China ($1.05 billion), Vietnam ($783.4 million), Mauritius ($773.96 million).
• Top Region by Investment (2024): Dar es Salaam with $4.44 billion across 356 projects and 107,962 jobs.

Project Registration Trends (2020-2024)

Project Ownership in 2024

• Foreign ownership: 44.8% (compared to 40.7% in 2023)
• Joint ventures: 19.6% (compared to 24.7% in 2023)
• Domestic ownership: 35.6% (compared to 34.6% in 2023)

Sectoral Analysis of Projects (January-December 2024)

Expansion Projects (January-December 2024)

Total expansion projects: 51 projects across various sectors.

Sectors by Project Count

Total projects: 901 The document doesn't provide the exact number for each sector, but visually it appears manufacturing has the highest number of projects, followed by commercial buildings and services.

Jobs Created by Sector (January-December 2024)

Total jobs: 212,293 Top sectors for job creation:

1. Commercial Building: approximately 125,760 jobs
2. Manufacturing: approximately 45,883 jobs
3. Economic Infrastructure: approximately 18,780 jobs
4. Transportation: approximately 7,475 jobs
5. Tourism: approximately 6,949 jobs

Capital Investment by Sector (January-December 2024)

Total investment: $9.3 billion Top sectors receiving investment:

1. Manufacturing: approximately $2.19 billion
2. Agriculture: approximately $1.89 billion
3. Commercial Building: approximately $788.86 million
4. Transportation: approximately $706.39 million
5. Telecommunication: approximately $651.92 million

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Top 5 Sources of FDI in 2024

1. China: $1,053.46 million
2. Vietnam: $783.4 million
3. Mauritius: $773.96 million
4. UAE: $702.52 million
5. United Kingdom: $394.30 million

Top 5 Sources of FDI in 2023

1. China: $2,111.41 million
2. India: $190.53 million
3. Singapore: $143.29 million
4. Hong Kong: $135 million
5. Germany: $131.25 million

Permits, Licenses and Approvals (2024 vs 2023)

The document shows a significant increase in permits, licenses, and approvals issued in 2024 compared to 2023, though the exact numbers aren't clearly visible in the document. The figure shows increases across multiple institutions including Immigration (residence permits), Labor Office (work permits), TRA (approved lists of exemptions), NIDA (legal identity card/NIN), TIC (certificate of incentives), and Ministry of Lands (derivative rights).

Top 10 Regional Distribution (by Capital Investment)

1. Dar es Salaam: 356 projects, 107,962 jobs, $4,440.97 million capital
2. Pwani: 166 projects, 49,784 jobs, $1,243.87 million capital
3. Ruvuma: 11 projects, 5,735 jobs, $597.64 million capital
4. Mwanza: 37 projects, 4,395 jobs, $581.11 million capital
5. Morogoro: 22 projects, 11,556 jobs, $446.17 million capital
6. Shinyanga: 16 projects, 1,121 jobs, $415.21 million capital
7. Arusha: 64 projects, 6,657 jobs, $213.06 million capital
8. Dodoma: 47 projects, 6,540 jobs, $182.36 million capital
9. Kigoma: 8 projects, 774 jobs, $155.62 million capital
10. Tanga: 23 projects, 1,315 jobs, $137.66 million capital

This analysis shows Tanzania's continued growth in investment across various sectors and regions, with significant increases in both domestic and foreign investments over the five-year period.

Trend Analysis of TIC Investment Projects (2020–2024):

1. Massive Growth in Investment Activity

• Project registrations rose 335% (from 207 to 901 projects).
• Strong surges in 2023 (+79%) and 2024 (+71%) especially indicate a sharp acceleration in interest.
• This suggests that Tanzania became a significantly more attractive investment destination over this period — possibly due to government reforms, better investment climate, infrastructure development, or global shifts.

2. Balanced Growth Between Domestic and Foreign Investments

• Domestic projects grew 402%, while foreign projects grew 399%.
• This shows that local investors are increasingly active, not just foreign investors — a positive signal of internal economic confidence and private sector development.

3. Joint Ventures Growing, But More Slowly

• Joint ventures increased 184%, slower compared to domestic and foreign projects.
• This may suggest a need to further encourage partnerships between Tanzanian and foreign investors.

4. Exceptional Job Creation

• Jobs created rose from 17,385 in 2020 to 212,293 in 2024 — a 1,121% increase.
• Shows investment projects are not just rising numerically, but also becoming larger and more labor-intensive, especially in sectors like commercial building and manufacturing.

5. Sharp Increase in Capital Investment

• Capital investment jumped from $1.1 billion to $9.3 billion (+745%).
• This signals larger-scale projects, and higher-value industries being targeted (not just quantity of projects but also quality/size).

6. Sectoral Insights

• Manufacturing is the top sector by project count and by capital investment ($2.19 billion).
• Commercial building dominates in job creation (125,760 jobs) but not necessarily in capital.
• Agriculture attracted the second-highest investment ($1.89 billion), reflecting efforts to modernize and commercialize the sector.
• Transportation and Telecommunications are emerging sectors — critical for logistics and digital economy growth.

7. Changes in Project Ownership Structure

• Foreign ownership increased slightly from 40.7% (2023) to 44.8% (2024).
• Domestic ownership also rose slightly, while joint ventures declined, suggesting investors may increasingly prefer to go solo rather than partner.

8. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Dynamics

• China remains the leading source of FDI in 2023 and 2024, though its FDI declined from $2.1 billion (2023) to $1.05 billion (2024).
• New strong entries in 2024 include Vietnam, Mauritius, and UAE — indicating diversification of Tanzania’s FDI sources.
• Shows shifting global investment patterns towards Tanzania.

9. Administrative Improvements

• A significant increase in permits, licenses, and approvals in 2024 suggests:
  • Greater activity and support from regulatory agencies.
  • Possibly better ease of doing business.
  • Tanzania’s institutions are responding to investment growth with better service delivery.

10. Regional Distribution

• Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions dominate in project number, job creation, and capital — but other regions like Ruvuma and Mwanza also attract significant investments.
• This suggests some beginning of investment decentralization, though still heavily urban/concentrated.

In Summary:

• Tanzania’s investment climate significantly improved from 2020–2024, characterized by:
  • Higher number, size, and diversity of projects.
  • Increased domestic investor participation.
  • Massive job creation.
  • Sectoral diversification.
  • Geographic spreading (still early but visible).
• Policy reforms, institutional strengthening, infrastructure improvements, and targeted promotion efforts likely played key roles.

Tanzania Investment Centre - Key Figures 2020-2024

Project Ownership Distribution (%)

Top 5 Sectors by Job Creation (2024)

Top 5 Sectors by Capital Investment (2024)

Top 5 Sources of FDI

Top 10 Regional Distribution (2024)

Macroeconomic Indicators (2024)

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for Tanzania recorded a modest annual increase of 0.35% from 116.03 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 116.43 in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Despite a quarterly decrease of -0.10% between the third and fourth quarters of 2024, the mining and quarrying sector remained stable with a marginal annual growth of +0.03%, while manufacturing recorded a slight annual growth of +0.62%. Meanwhile, the water supply sector under utilities showed a significant surge of +27.39% over the year, indicating infrastructure pressures and rising operational costs. Based on these trends, Tanzania's overall PPI is forecasted to grow slowly by around 1.0% to 2.0% in 2025, driven by stable mining activities, continued utility sector price pressures, and a slow recovery in the manufacturing sector.

1. Overall Producer Price Index (PPI)

• 2024 Q3: 116.55
• 2024 Q4: 116.43
• Change (Q4 vs Q3): -0.10% (a slight decrease)
• Change (Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023): +0.35% (marginal annual increase)

2. Sector Performances

➡️ Mining and Quarrying (Weight: 19.08%)

• Q4 2023: 128.66
• Q3 2024: 128.69
• Q4 2024: 128.69
• Change (Q4 vs Q3): 0.00% (no significant change)
• Annual Change: +0.03%

➡️ Manufacturing (Weight: 62.80%)

• Q4 2023: 115.29
• Q3 2024: 116.29
• Q4 2024: 116.01
• Change (Q4 vs Q3): -0.24%
• Annual Change: +0.62%

➡️ Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water) (Weight: 18.12%)

• Q4 2023: 105.29
• Q3 2024: 104.70
• Q4 2024: 105.01
• Change (Q4 vs Q3): +0.30%
• Annual Change: -0.26%

Top Increases in Prices (Q4 2024 vs Q3 2024)

Top Decreases in Prices (Q4 2024 vs Q3 2024)

Annual Standout Performances (Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023)

Top 3 Annual Increases:

Top 3 Annual Decreases:

Notes on Methodology:

• Base year: 2018 Q4 = 100
• Weighting base: 2015 Annual Survey of Industrial Production (ASIP 2015).
• Classification: ISIC Rev.4
• Aggregation methods: Jevons geometric mean (elementary aggregates) and Laspeyres formula (higher aggregates).

What the Report Tells About the Main Production Sectors:

1. Manufacturing Sector (Weight: 62.80%)

• PPI fell by -0.24% from Q3 to Q4 2024.
• Annual growth is small (+0.62%).

Meaning:
The manufacturing sector is struggling to push prices up — which usually suggests either:

• Low demand for manufactured products, or
• High competition keeping prices down, or
• Input costs (raw materials, energy) might not have risen much.

Key Problem Sectors inside Manufacturing:

• Rubber and plastics: fell by -3.25%.
• Chemicals: fell by -2.90%.
• Beverages: fell by -2.07%.

These drops tell us some industries are experiencing either oversupply or lower consumer spending (e.g., beverages = people spending less?).

2. Mining and Quarrying (Weight: 19.08%)

• PPI remained stable (0.00% change).

Meaning:
The mining sector is very stable — no price pressures.

• Maybe global metal prices (e.g., gold, ores) are steady.
• Tanzanian mining outputs probably have long-term contracts protecting them from short-term fluctuations.

3. Utilities: Water, Electricity, Gas (Weight: 18.12%)

• Utilities grew +0.30% this quarter.
• Water services exploded by +27.39% year-on-year!

Meaning:
Costs in water services have skyrocketed — maybe:

• Investments in water infrastructure?
• Higher operational costs passed to producers?
• Droughts, climate impacts causing scarcity?

Electricity and gas prices are stable though.

Summary: Which sectors tell the bigger story?

Why is this happening?

My interpretation:

• Global Economic Conditions: Global slowdown → less demand for Tanzanian manufactured goods.
• Local Competition: Tanzanian manufacturers might be facing competition from cheap imports (especially plastics, chemicals).
• Utility Pressures: Essential services like water are becoming expensive, partly due to climate or infrastructure investments.

In short:
👉 Manufacturing is under pressure.
👉 Mining is stable and resilient.
👉 Water utilities are seeing huge price rises, impacting overall production costs.

Forecast for 2025 (Based on 2024 Trends)

1. Manufacturing Sector Forecast (Weight: 62.80%)

• Current trend: Decrease of -0.24% from Q3 to Q4 2024.
• Annual growth: Only +0.62% (almost flat).

2025 Forecast:

• Likely to grow slowly, around +1.0% to +2.0% for the full year, unless there is strong domestic demand or exports grow.
• Some sub-sectors like rubber and plastics, chemicals, and beverages will continue facing pressure.

Reason:

• Global slowdown still affects manufactured goods.
• Competition (local and imports) remains strong.
• Input costs (like raw materials) may stay moderate.

2. Mining and Quarrying Forecast (Weight: 19.08%)

• Current trend: Stable — 0.00% quarterly change, +0.03% annual change.

2025 Forecast:

• Stable to slight increase, around +0.5% to +1.5%.
• Especially if gold and mineral prices globally remain good.

Reason:

• Mining has long-term contracts.
• Tanzania's mining policies are supporting stability.

3. Utilities (Electricity, Water) Forecast (Weight: 18.12%)

• Water services rose sharply by +27.39% in 2024.
• Overall Utilities dropped slightly by -0.26% because electricity prices remained stable.

2025 Forecast:

• Water prices will continue to rise, but more slowly, maybe +5% to +10%.
• Electricity prices stable or slightly higher depending on fuel/import costs.

Reason:

• Water projects, climate impacts, urbanization will keep pressure high.
• Electricity needs big infrastructure investment to avoid big price jumps.

Quick Forecast Table for 2025

Overall 2025 PPI Forecast

• Overall PPI may grow slowly, around +1.0% to +2.0% in 2025.
• Strong sectors (Water supply, Mining stability) will balance weak ones (Manufacturing slow recovery).

Why?

• World economy recovering slowly → small demand growth.
• Climate change affecting water costs.
• Manufacturing needs investment and innovation to grow faster.

The global trade outlook for 2025 has sharply deteriorated following the announcement and partial implementation of new US "reciprocal tariffs," often referred to as Trump tariffs. According to the WTO's Global Trade Outlook and Statistics 2025, the volume of world merchandise trade is now projected to contract by -0.2% in 2025, a stark reversal from the +2.9% growth seen in 2024. If trade policy uncertainty spreads further, the decline could deepen to -1.5%. Global GDP growth at market exchange rates is also expected to slow, falling from 2.8% in 2024 to 2.2% in 2025. North America will experience the heaviest losses, dragging global trade growth down by -1.7 percentage points, while Asia’s contribution to global trade growth is expected to shrink by half to +0.6 percentage points. Services trade, though less directly affected by tariffs, will also slow, with projected growth declining from 6.8% in 2024 to 4.0% in 2025. Despite the challenging environment, least-developed countries (LDCs) could see their merchandise export volume rise by 4.8%, benefiting from trade diversion effects as US importers seek alternatives to Chinese goods.

1. Global Trade Growth

• Merchandise Trade (goods):
  • 2024: +2.9% growth (volume).
  • 2025 (forecast): -0.2% contraction (due to new tariffs and trade policy uncertainty).
  • 2026 (forecast): +2.5% recovery.
• Commercial Services Trade:
  • 2024: +6.8% growth (volume).
  • 2025 (forecast): +4.0% growth.
  • 2026 (forecast): +4.1% growth.

2. Trade in Value Terms

• World Merchandise Exports (2024): US$ 24.43 trillion (+2% value growth).
• World Commercial Services Exports (2024): US$ 8.69 trillion (+9% value growth).

3. Leading Traders (2024)

• Top Merchandise Exporter: China (US$ 3.58 trillion).
• Top Merchandise Importer: USA (US$ 3.36 trillion).
• Top Services Exporter: USA (US$ 1.08 trillion).
• Top Services Importer: USA (US$ 787 billion).
• If counted as a single entity, EU had:
  • Exports: US$ 2.80 trillion (merchandise), US$ 1.64 trillion (services).
  • Imports: US$ 2.63 trillion (merchandise), US$ 1.44 trillion (services).

4. Regional Impact on Trade (2025 Forecast)

5. Risks to the Forecast

• If US reciprocal tariffs are reinstated → World trade could fall by an extra -0.6%.
• If trade policy uncertainty spreads → Another -0.8% cut.
• Combined → Trade may fall -1.5% in 2025.

6. Special Insights

• LDCs (Least-Developed Countries) may benefit from US-China trade tensions:
  • Their exports could grow by +4.8% in 2025 (adjusted forecast).
  • US seeks alternative suppliers for goods like textiles and electronics.

7. Global GDP Growth

• 2024: +2.8% growth.
• 2025 (forecast): +2.2% (adjusted down because of tariffs).
• 2026 (forecast): +2.4%.

8. Sector-Specific Services Growth (2025 Forecast)

9. Highlights from 2024 Performance

• Asia led transport service growth (+18%).
• Africa's travel exports grew +9%, led by countries like Tanzania (+19%).
• Computer services exports (e.g., AI, IT) grew +12% globally, reaching US$ 1 trillion.

Main Impacts of Trump Tariffs:

More Details:

• Trump Tariffs Structure:
  • +25% on many imports (especially cars, steel).
  • +145% extra on goods from China (excluding some electronics).
  • Reciprocal tariffs across all partners (except some exemptions)​.
• Trade Diversion:
  • Chinese exports drop 77% to the US.
  • Other Asian economies and LDCs like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Lesotho benefit by supplying more to the US​.
• Regional Trade Shifts:
  • Asia ex-China gains some US market share.
  • Africa and LDCs modest gains in exports.
  • North America and Europe suffer from declining trade flows.

Trump Tariffs could cause a -1.5% fall in world merchandise trade, slow global GDP by -0.6%, severely hit North America, and create new export chances for some LDCs.

Global Trade and Economy Are Becoming More Fragile

• In early 2025, the world expected trade and economic growth to continue recovering after past shocks like COVID-19 and inflation.
• But new tariffs, especially the Trump "reciprocal tariffs", have reversed this outlook.

Main Messages:

1. Global trade will shrink in 2025.
   • Merchandise trade will contract by -0.2% (and -1.5% if more uncertainty spreads).
   • Services trade will grow more slowly.
2. North America will suffer the most.
   • Big drop in US and Canada trade and GDP.
   • They cause the biggest drag on world trade growth.
3. Asia and Europe stay positive but weaker.
   • Asia’s trade grows, but much slower.
   • Europe grows a little bit, not strong enough to save global trade.
4. Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) may benefit a little.
   • Some LDCs could sell more to the US as alternatives to China.
   • But they are still vulnerable if global uncertainty grows.
5. Global GDP will slow down.
   • From expected 2.8% growth to about 2.2% in 2025.
   • Trade and economic policies are now major risks for growth.
6. The Trump Tariffs are disruptive.
   • They don’t just hurt US-China trade.
   • They shake global supply chains, cause trade diversion, and hurt overall confidence.
   • Even services (like shipping, travel, IT) are impacted.

In Short:

The world economy in 2025 looks weaker than expected because of new US tariffs. Trade will shrink, growth will slow, and the risks of more disruption are high. Some poor countries might gain opportunities, but the overall environment is more uncertain and fragile.

The introduction of new US reciprocal tariffs in 2025, often referred to as Trump tariffs, is reshaping global trade patterns, creating mixed impacts for Africa and Tanzania. According to the WTO Global Trade Outlook and Statistics 2025, Africa’s merchandise exports are expected to grow by +0.6% in 2025, slightly higher than previous forecasts, as US buyers seek new suppliers outside China. Least-developed countries, including Tanzania, are projected to benefit from this trade diversion, with export growth for LDCs rising to +4.8%. However, Africa’s services exports, which include key sectors like transport and tourism, are expected to contract by -1.6%, reversing earlier positive expectations. For Tanzania, opportunities lie in expanding agricultural, textile, and gold exports, but risks remain in its tourism and logistics sectors. Despite these challenges, Africa's overall GDP impact is minimal, with projected growth hovering around 0.0% change, reflecting resilience but also vulnerability to further global trade uncertainties.

Africa - Overall Trade Outlook 2025

• Africa’s Merchandise Exports (2025 forecast):
  • Growth: +0.6% (adjusted, after tariffs and uncertainty).
  • 2024 growth was +1.3%.
• Africa’s Merchandise Imports:
  • 2025 forecast: +6.5% growth.
  • Strong import recovery after a slow 2024 (+1.8%).
• Africa’s Services Exports:
  • 2025 baseline forecast was +1.8%.
  • Adjusted forecast: -1.6% decline (due to global uncertainty).
• Impact on Africa’s GDP:
  • 2025 GDP growth is forecast to slow by -0.04% to flat 0.0% growth​.
  • This indicates a mild but noticeable slowdown.

Tanzania Specific Points

• Tanzania is not individually highlighted among Africa's top 10 traders in the WTO report.
• However, based on the region-wide Africa performance and Tanzania's recent growth patterns:
  • Tanzania’s exports (goods and services) are likely to grow modestly, mainly due to opportunities in agriculture, gold, tourism, and digitally delivered services.
  • Risks:
    • Weaker demand from Europe and China.
    • Rising competition from other LDCs benefiting from US-China trade diversions​.

Key Opportunity for Tanzania:
New US demand for textiles, agricultural products, and electronics substitutes from African countries could support +4% to +5% export growth if leveraged well​.

Top 10 African Countries (Trade Outlook 2025)

Note: Rankings based on 2024 export size and WTO forecasts​​.

Quick Figure Highlights:

• Africa's contribution to world trade growth: Only +0.4 percentage points in 2025​.
• Africa’s share in digitally delivered services exports: 0.9% in 2024, slowly rising​.
• Overall world trade contraction: -0.2% (2025).

"Africa’s trade will show mixed results in 2025, with strong import growth but only modest export recovery. Tanzania could benefit from shifts in global trade, but services exports will remain vulnerable."

Impact of Trump Tariffs on Africa (Including Tanzania)

Impact on Tanzania Specifically

• Export Opportunities:
  • Tanzania could gain market access in the US for textiles, garments, agriculture as US buyers look for alternatives to Chinese goods​.
  • Strong sectors: gold exports, horticulture, and tourism recovery.
• Risks:
  • Services sector (tourism, logistics) could suffer because of lower global travel demand: services exports expected to fall -1.6% for Africa, including Tanzania​.
  • Logistics costs may increase (higher shipping costs), which could hurt exporters' competitiveness.
• GDP Impact:
  • Tanzania’s GDP growth impact is very minor (similar to Africa average at 0.0% to slight negative).
  • If global uncertainty spreads more, Tanzania's exports could slow more sharply in late 2025.

Short Conclusion:

"Trump tariffs could offer Tanzania a chance to expand goods exports, especially to the US, but services like tourism and shipping face a slowdown. Overall, Africa will see modest export gains but services sector pain."