United Rep. of Tanzania

United Rep. of Tanzania

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United Rep. of Tanzania-South Africa Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.76B total volume •United Rep. of Tanzania surplus: $551.61M

United Rep. of TanzaniaSouth Africa

$1.16B

Exports (2023)

South AfricaUnited Rep. of Tanzania

$605.35M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$551.61M

Surplus for United Rep. of Tanzania

Total Trade

$1.76B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between United Rep. of Tanzania and South Africa. Green line shows exports from United Rep. of Tanzania, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the United Rep. of Tanzania-South Africa commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

United Rep. of TanzaniaSouth Africa Exports

$1.16B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
92.9% top product
1Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder)
$1.08B
92.9% of exports
2Oils and products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar: naphthalene
$25.22M
2.2% of exports
3Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped
$13.31M
1.2% of exports
4Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$7.35M
0.6% of exports
5Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of cotton seed oils
$3.29M
0.3% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

United Rep. of Tanzania's export portfolio to South Africa demonstrates strategic specialization, with metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

South AfricaUnited Rep. of Tanzania Imports

$605.35M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
8.3% concentration
1Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section
$50.43M
8.3% of imports
2Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1
$50.41M
8.3% of imports
3Undenatured ethyl alcohol: of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher
$36.22M
6.0% of imports
4Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling
$16.89M
2.8% of imports
5Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803): printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weight 40-150g/m2, in sheets 435mm or less by 297mm or less (unfolded)
$12.57M
2.1% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

United Rep. of Tanzania's import pattern from South Africa reveals significant dependencyin iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

United Rep. of Tanzania demonstrates competitive strength in exportingmetals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) to South Africa, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.76B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: United Rep. of Tanzania-South Africa Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.76 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: United Rep. of Tanzania maintains a surplus of $551.61 million
  • Export Focus: United Rep. of Tanzania's primary exports include metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder), oils and products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar: naphthalene, tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from South Africa include iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section, vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1, undenatured ethyl alcohol: of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.76B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with United Rep. of Tanzania leveraging its comparative advantages in metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder).

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

United Rep. of Tanzania's specialization in metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder)complements South Africa's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.76B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.76B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.76 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) and iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

United Rep. of Tanzania's trade surplus of $551.61 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in oils and products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar: naphthalene present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between United Rep. of Tanzania and South Africa represents a total trade volume of $1.76 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for United Rep. of Tanzania, with exports exceeding importsby $551.61 million.

Export Strengths

United Rep. of Tanzania's exports to South Africa total $1.16 billion, with competitive advantages in metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder), representing $1.08B or92.9% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from South Africa amount to $605.35 million, highlighting economic interdependence in iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section, with Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section comprising8.3% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates United Rep. of Tanzania's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between United Rep. of Tanzania and South Africa in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023