Dar exports to China more than doubled

By Felix Andrew, IPP Media
Fri, Jun 16, 2006

China ranked the second after South Africa among the largest trading partners of Tanzania last year. The value of exports to China increased more than doubled to USD 0.17 billion, staggering 150 per cent increase.

Imports from China to Tanzania was valued at USD 0.3 billion, a 40.6 per cent swell.

The Third Secretary of the Chinese embassy in Dar es Salaam, John Zhou, said that China imported from Tanzania various traditional and non-traditional goods over the period under review.

The consul told an Asia-Africa Trade Forum organized by the Standard Chartered Bank in Dar es Salaam last week, that China imported from Tanzania gold, worth USD 61 million, cotton, valued at USD 15 million, and sisal treasured USD 470,000.

China had also signed a tariff exemption treatment or Special Preferential Tariff Agreement (SPT) involving 190 exempted items to benefit several underdeveloped countries in Africa since January 2005.

Some of the non-traditional products China imported from Tanzania were sesame seeds, cocoa beans, wet goatskins, seashells, waste plastics and seaweed, valued at USD 12.13 million.

John said in 2002 and 2003, the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) participated at the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) and will be presented at this year fair by more than 15 Chinese enterprises.