Tanzania recorded $457 million in fertiliser imports throughout 2023. Official data indicates that these imports reached 789,800 tonnes during the same period, representing a 26 percent increase compared to 2022. While demand for the commodity grew, domestic fertiliser production in Tanzania remained limited, standing at 46,100 tonnes in 2023.
Rising Demand for Fertiliser
Tanzania’s national fertiliser demand expanded during recent agricultural cycles. Official records show that the country required 698,300 tonnes of fertiliser during the 2021/2022 agricultural season. By the 2023/2024 period, this requirement rose to 848,900 tonnes. These figures reflect a consistent upward trend in the agricultural sector’s consumption of soil nutrients. The gap between domestic production capacities and these rising national requirements continues to shape the market environment for international suppliers. Jordanian producers are positioned to respond to this consumption growth as they explore export opportunities within the Tanzanian market.
Current Trade and Market Gaps
Tanzania imported 130,700 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 113,900 tonnes of compound fertilisers during 2023. Despite recording global DAP exports valued at $50.5 million throughout that year, Jordan shipped no DAP to Tanzania. Market data shows Jordan accounted for 3 percent of Tanzania’s total compound fertiliser imports in 2023. These figures identify a significant gap in the trade relationship between the two nations, particularly regarding high-demand soil nutrients. Jordanian producers currently supply a small fraction of the compound fertilisers required by the Tanzanian agricultural sector, while their participation in the DAP segment remains absent. These statistics provide a baseline for Jordanian firms evaluating entry into the Tanzanian market to address ongoing supply deficits.
Regulatory Environment and Opportunities
Fertilisers classified under HS code 31 enter Tanzania duty-free as part of the East African Community’s Common External Tariff. This policy removes a primary cost barrier for international suppliers seeking to deliver soil nutrients to the Tanzanian agricultural sector. Jordanian manufacturers may also find broader regional prospects based on recent research. A study identified a potential addressable market of $2.5 billion for Jordanian manufacturers across Indonesia, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Kenya, and Malaysia. This projected value encompasses the total demand identified by the research across these five specific national markets. Jordanian firms currently evaluating their export strategies can rely on these tariff structures and regional market assessments to inform their entry into the Tanzanian fertiliser sector.
Broader Agricultural Input Market
Tanzania’s agricultural input requirements extend beyond soil nutrients to include chemical pest control products. Data for 2023 indicates that the country recorded $24.9 million in total pesticide imports. This expenditure reflects the ongoing need for crop protection materials to support domestic agricultural output. While fertiliser remains a primary focus for international trade discussions, the demand for pesticides represents an additional segment within the broader agricultural supply chain. Jordanian exporters currently evaluating their presence in the Tanzanian market may consider these figures when assessing the diversification of their product offerings. These import statistics provide a secondary indicator of the scale of agricultural inputs required annually to sustain the nation’s farming sector and address existing production deficits.
