ZANZIBAR’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has reported that efforts to expand market access and boost export activity have significantly improved overall trade performance, with the Isles conducting trade worth 1.825trn/- in 2024, compared to 1.611trn/- in 2023—marking a 13.3 percent increase.

Minister for Trade and Industry, Omar Said Shabani said this on Thursday during a session of the House of Representatives while presenting the ministry’s budget for the 2025/2026 financial year at Chukwani, on the outskirts of Zanzibar City.

According to the minister, key exports included cloves, printed fabrics (vitenge and khanga), seaweed, marine products, scrap metal, wheat by-products, and cowhides. Imported items comprised food products, pharmaceuticals, and vehicle spare parts.

Zanzibar exported goods worth 105.28bn/- in 2024, slightly down from109.26bn/- in 2023—a 3.6 percent decrease. The decline was attributed to reduced exports of cloves and seaweed, with major export destinations including Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, India and Denmark.

On imports, Minister Shabani reported that Zanzibar imported goods valued at 1.649trn/- in 2024, up from 1.501trn/- in 2023, reflecting a 9.8 percent increase. The main imports included fuel, industrial products, transport equipment, clothing and food items. These were sourced predominantly from the UAE, China, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey and Vietnam.

Regarding trade between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, goods worth 106.32bn/- were exported from Zanzibar to the mainland in 2024, compared to 95.72bn/- in 2023. Exports included scrap metal, cooking oil, basmati rice and various canned food products.

Conversely, Zanzibar imported goods worth 382.51bn/- from mainland Tanzania in 2024, down from 431.54bn/- in 2023.

Despite fluctuations in trade flows, the minister assured that the availability of essential food items in Zanzibar remained stable, with no significant disruptions in supply.

Between July 2024 and March 2025, Zanzibar imported 24,746.08 tonnes of rice, 18,708.02 tonnes of sugar, 705.50 tonnes of wheat flour and 102,207.71 tonnes of cooking oil

The imports primarily originated from India, Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan and Vietnam.

In terms of domestic production, the minister highlighted continued output of wheat flour by Zanzibar Milling, based in Mtoni. From July 2024 to March 2025, local production included 56,723.76 tonnes of wheat flour and 7,900 tonnes of sugar

 The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring food security and supporting trade sector growth through infrastructure, policy reform and regional cooperation.