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Tafric request data as of November 12, 2026
To import from Turkey to Tanzania, choose a Turkish manufacturer, make sure regulated goods receive a TBS Certificate of Conformity (CoC) under the PVoC programme before loading, check whether your product needs TBS registration (food and cosmetics) or a TMDA permit (medicines and medical devices), and clear the goods through the Tanzania Revenue Authority with a licensed clearing agent, usually at Dar es Salaam. Regulated goods that arrive without a CoC face a penalty of 15% of the CIF value plus destination inspection costs. This guide covers each step with the products Tanzanian buyers actually ask Turkish manufacturers for.
Tafric is a B2B marketplace that connects Turkish manufacturers with African buyers: the buyer posts a request for free, Tafric checks it, and Turkish manufacturers in that category contact the buyer directly.
What does Tanzania buy from Turkey?
Tanzanian buyers ask Turkish manufacturers mainly for clothing, home furniture, cold rooms and building materials: 159 buying requests from Tanzania were published on Tafric between 18 August and 11 November 2026, 61 of them in the last 30 days.
| Sector | Share of requests (90 days) | Examples of requests |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | 19% | abayas and modest dresses, ladies' official and casual dresses, men's jeans and shirts, underwear |
| Furniture | 11% | 3-2-1 and seven-seater sofa sets, dining tables, coffee tables |
| Cold rooms and HVAC | 10% | cold rooms for fish and poultry, fruit and vegetable storage, hotel water heating systems |
| Building materials | 9% | floor and wall tiles, sanitary ware, reinforcement bars |
| Medical | 8% | laboratory equipment, ultrasound machines, medical consumables |
| Agricultural machinery | 6% | tractors, combine harvesters, planting and harvesting equipment |
| Cosmetics and cleaning | 5% | perfume, skin care, laundry and household cleaning products |
| Food | 5% | refined sugar and assorted food products |
These figures come from requests actually posted on Tafric by Tanzanian traders, hotels, hospitals, farms and fish and poultry businesses; they show demand, not official trade statistics. For cold rooms, read our cold room buyer's guide; for modest wear, wholesale abayas and hijabs from Turkey; for farm equipment, tractors and agricultural equipment from Turkey.
Which documents do you need to import into Tanzania?
Products covered by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) regulations, a wide list that includes clothing and textiles, electrical goods, building materials, auto parts, chemicals, household goods, food and agricultural products, go through the PVoC programme before loading: the Turkish exporter applies to the TBS-appointed inspection body, and after inspection and, where needed, testing, the shipment receives a Certificate of Conformity. Since May 2025 TBS again applies a penalty of 15% of the CIF value plus destination inspection costs to regulated goods arriving without a CoC, and releases them only after their conformity is verified. Food and cosmetics have been regulated by TBS since 2019 and need product and premises registration; medicines, medical devices and diagnostics need registration and an import permit from the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA).
| Document | Who prepares it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Proforma invoice, then commercial invoice | Turkish supplier | At order, then at loading, priced CFR Dar es Salaam |
| PVoC Certificate of Conformity | Supplier, with the TBS-appointed inspection body | Before loading, for regulated goods |
| Bill of lading, packing list | Carrier and supplier | At loading |
| Certificate of origin | Supplier, endorsed by a chamber of commerce | At loading |
| Food and cosmetics registration | Importer, with TBS | Before importing the product |
| Medicines and medical device permit | Importer, with TMDA | Before each import |
| Customs entry | Licensed clearing agent | On arrival, through the TRA system |
Tanzania applies the East African Community Common External Tariff: 0% for raw materials, 10% for intermediate goods, 25% for finished goods and, since 2022, a 35% band for sensitive goods produced in the region, including textiles and garments, furniture, iron and steel, ceramic products, edible oils and sugar; VAT is added on top (18% on the mainland, 15% in Zanzibar). Zanzibar has its own standards and food authorities. Rates depend on the HS code, so ask your clearing agent for the landed cost before you pay the supplier. If you also buy for Kenya, read our Kenya import guide.
Dar es Salaam, Tanga or Mtwara: where should your goods arrive?
Most Turkish goods for Tanzania arrive at the port of Dar es Salaam, which also serves transit cargo to Zambia, DR Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda; Tanga in the north, close to Arusha and Moshi, and Mtwara in the south also handle containers.
| Destination | Usual port of arrival | Point to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam | Dar es Salaam | container free time and port clearance |
| Arusha, Moshi, the north | Tanga or Dar es Salaam, then road | frequency of services to Tanga |
| Dodoma, Mwanza, inland | Dar es Salaam, then rail or road | longer inland leg |
| Zanzibar | via Dar es Salaam or direct | Zanzibar's separate food and standards bodies |
| Zambia, DR Congo, Malawi (transit) | Dar es Salaam | transit documents and destination country rules |
Container services from Turkey to Dar es Salaam usually transship at a Middle East hub such as Jeddah, Salalah or Jebel Ali and generally take 3 to 5 weeks port to port; ask your forwarder for the current schedule. Turkish Airlines flies to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, which is useful for samples and urgent spare parts. Ask suppliers for a CFR Dar es Salaam price and compare them on the cost delivered to your city.
Payment and currency
Tanzania's currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), and import payments to Turkish suppliers are usually made in US dollars or euros. With a Turkish manufacturer, the common practice is a deposit at order and the balance before shipment or against documents; for larger amounts, a letter of credit protects both sides. Pay only into an account in the supplier company's name.
Ordering from Turkey to Tanzania, step by step
1) Describe the product, quantity, sizes or specifications and your delivery city precisely. 2) Post a free request on Tafric or contact manufacturers in the category. 3) Compare at least two suppliers on the same specification, with a CFR Dar es Salaam price. 4) Check with the supplier whether your product falls under PVoC and who will arrange the CoC, and check TBS or TMDA registration for food, cosmetics and medical products. 5) Agree in writing on lead time, packaging, payment and documents. 6) Track the shipment, then clearance and delivery.
How Tafric helps Tanzanian buyers
Posting a request is free. Turkish manufacturers see your request and contact you directly. See Turkish suppliers for Tanzania by sector, the monthly Africa buyer demand report and hospital beds and medical equipment from Turkey. Post your request.
Frequently asked questions
How do I import from Turkey to Tanzania?
Choose a Turkish manufacturer, make sure regulated goods receive a TBS Certificate of Conformity under the PVoC programme before loading, check TBS registration for food and cosmetics or a TMDA permit for medicines and medical devices, then clear the goods through the Tanzania Revenue Authority with a licensed clearing agent, usually at Dar es Salaam.
What is the TBS PVoC certificate?
PVoC is the Tanzania Bureau of Standards' pre-export verification of conformity programme. For regulated goods, the exporter applies to the TBS-appointed inspection body, and the shipment receives a Certificate of Conformity after inspection. Regulated goods arriving without a CoC face a penalty of 15% of the CIF value plus destination inspection costs.
What import duty does Tanzania charge on Turkish goods?
Tanzania applies the EAC Common External Tariff: 0%, 10%, 25% and a 35% band for sensitive goods such as textiles and garments, furniture, iron and steel, ceramics, edible oils and sugar. VAT (18% on the mainland) is added on top. The exact rate depends on the HS code.
What do Tanzanian buyers order from Turkey?
On Tafric, Tanzanian buyers ask first for clothing (19% of requests, especially abayas and modest wear), then home furniture, cold rooms for fish and poultry, tiles and sanitary ware, laboratory and medical equipment and tractors.
How long does shipping from Turkey to Dar es Salaam take?
Container services usually transship at a Middle East hub such as Jeddah, Salalah or Jebel Ali and generally take 3 to 5 weeks port to port. Inland and transit legs add time.
Is posting a request on Tafric free?
Yes. Posting a request is free for buyers, and Turkish manufacturers in the category contact you directly.