DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is taking strategic steps to deepen its presence in the Egyptian tea market as fresh diplomatic and trade discussions signal new opportunities for the sector.
Egypt’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Sherif Ismail, met in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, with the Tanzania Tea Board (TTB) Director General, Ms Beatrice Banzi, to discuss the importance of strengthening cooperation in the tea sector.
The talks, centred on how the two countries can work together to expand Tanzania’s tea footprint in the Egyptian market. Amb Ismail underscored Egypt’s commitment to boosting trade collaboration with Tanzania across several sectors, adding that tea has been singled out as a priority area.
He said that, despite the two countries belonging to different regional blocs: Egypt in COMESA and Tanzania in the EAC and SADC, they can still negotiate special trade arrangements to ease and promote smoother tea trade between their economies.
“For tea to move more easily between our countries, it is essential to put in place agreements that facilitate and encourage this trade. “We see great potential in expanding tea trade. Establishing agreements that simplify cross-border business will benefit both countries,” Amb Ismail said.
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According to the latest data from the United Nations COMTRADE database, Tanzania exported tea worth 486.34 thousand US dollars to Egypt in 2024.
The updated figures, which include historical charts and comparative statistics, were last reviewed in November, offering a fresh outlook on bilateral agricultural trade.
The discussions focused on exploring opportunities to expand the market for Tanzanian tea in Egypt. The Embassy praised the visit and expressed satisfaction with the TTB’s engagement, noting that Egypt remains the among countries most tea-consuming nations.
Officials highlighted that the country’s per-capita tea consumption averages about one kilogramme per person per year, underscoring the scale of demand and the potential for Tanzanian producers to increase their market share.
The Embassy further extended an invitation to the TTB to participate in a series of upcoming trade and investment forums between the two countries.
According to the Embassy, these platforms will help open doors for direct business collaboration in the tea sector, enabling Tanzanian exporters to connect more easily with Egyptian buyers, distributors and industry players. Ms Banzi said the engagement with the Egyptian Ambassador was both timely and encouraging.
She noted that the discussions reaffirmed Egypt’s strong interest in Tanzanian tea and opened a new chapter for cooperation between the two countries. She highlighted that Egypt’s large and steady demand for tea provides a valuable opportunity for Tanzanian producers.
“We are pleased with the willingness shown by the Egyptian Embassy to work closely with us in expanding the presence of Tanzanian tea in their market. “This meeting has strengthened our confidence that, through structured collaboration and trade facilitation, we can significantly increase our tea exports to Egypt,” she said.
The Director General added that they are committed to providing accurate sector data, promoting quality improvement and supporting exporters in meeting market requirements.
She welcomed the Embassy’s invitation to upcoming trade and investment forums, saying these platforms will enable Tanzanian stakeholders to engage directly with Egyptian buyers and identify new commercial opportunities in the tea value chain.
After yielding 22,000 tonnes last season, Tanzania’s tea industry is forecasting production of up to 30,000 tonnes this year, signalling renewed momentum in the sector.