DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has an opportunity to increase exports to Turkey with goods worth 17 million US dollars over the next five years, as the country moves to deepen trade ties with one of Europe and Asia’s fastgrowing consumer markets.
According to a Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) market intelligence report released on Tuesday, the country can significantly expand exports of gold, sesame, cotton, soya beans and tea to the Turkish market in the next four years.
The report says gold was the leading product with the highest untapped export potential, followed by sesame, cotton, soya beans and tea. Sesame alone accounts for an unrealised export opportunity valued at 9.9 million US dollars, while cotton presents additional market potential worth 1.9 million US dollars.
Soya beans could generate an extra 794,000 US dollars in exports, while tea exports have additional untapped potential valued at 129,000 US dollars.
TanTrade Director General, Dr Latifa Khamis said the findings demonstrate the country’s growing capacity to diversify export destinations and strengthen foreign exchange earnings through nontraditional markets.
“The Turkish market presents strong opportunities for Tanzanian exporters, especially in agricultural commodities and minerals where Tanzania already has competitive advantages,” said Dr Khamis in the report.
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She added that TanTrade will continue to support exporters through market intelligence, trade promotion initiatives and capacity building to help local products meet international standards and buyer requirements.
The report shows that trade between Tanzania and Turkey has expanded steadily over the past five years, although the trade balance continues to favour Turkey.
According to TanTrade data, Tanzania’s exports to Turkey stood at 22 million US dollars in 2021 before declining to 13 million US dollars in 2022. Exports later surged to 22 million US dollars in 2023 and 31 million US dollars in 2024.
However, imports from Turkey remained significantly higher, rising from 237 million US dollars in 2021 to 328 million US dollars in 2023 before easing to 165 million US dollars in 2024 and 189 million US dollars in 2025. As a result, Tanzania continued recording a trade deficit with Turkey, although the gap narrowed in recent years.
The trade balance improved from a deficit of 306 million US dollars in 2023 to 134 million US dollars in 2024. The report identifies tobacco, coffee, sesame, cashew nuts and cotton as Tanzania’s leading export products to Turkey between 2021 and 2025.