IMPORT GUIDE · CHECKED 6 OCTOBER 2026
Importing construction machinery into Tanzania
Excavators, loaders, bulldozers and graders (HS 8429) enter Tanzania at 0% import duty under the EAC common external tariff. VAT and levies add 20% of the customs value plus 0.6% of the FOB value. On a machine with a $100,000 customs value, that is $20,600 in taxes at entry.
Import taxes on machinery in Tanzania
| Tax | Rate | Charged on | On $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 0% | Customs value (CIF) | $0 |
| VAT | 18% | Customs value + duty | $18,000 |
| Railway development levy | 2% | Customs value (CIF) | $2,000 |
| Customs processing fee | 0.6% | FOB value | $600 |
| Total taxes at entry | $20,600 | ||
Worked example on a $100,000 customs value (cost, insurance and freight). FOB-based charges are shown as if FOB equalled that value; on a real shipment they apply to the FOB price only. Every lane page has a calculator for your own figures.
Before the machine ships
- Pre-shipment inspection
- No inspection rule on file for Tanzania yet; your forwarder confirms what applies.
- Customs system
- TANCIS (Tanzania Revenue Authority)
- Documents you will need
- Commercial invoice, packing list (listing attachments shipped loose) and the bill of lading.
Guides by where you buy
Sea routes into Tanzania
| From | To | Sea days |
|---|---|---|
| Busan, South Korea | Dar es Salaam | 28 |
| Houston, United States | Dar es Salaam | 67 |
| Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates | Dar es Salaam | 10–15 |
| Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru), India | Dar es Salaam | 14–17 |
| Qingdao, China | Dar es Salaam | 33–38 |
| Shanghai, China | Dar es Salaam | 23–31 |
| Yokohama, Japan | Dar es Salaam | 37 |