Tanzania is one of the fastest-growing economies in East Africa, offering an abundance of natural resources, such as minerals and agricultural products, to the world. This makes it a significant exporter for the US, which helps fuel Tanzania’s industrial markets.
The trade between Tanzania and the US spans a wide range of products, including coffee, tobacco, tea, and minerals like gold and precious metals. In 2022, US goods imports from Tanzania amounted to $164 million, which accounts for a 67.5% increase from the previous year.
When shipping from Tanzania to the US, you need to be familiar with the intricacies of the process to achieve a successful shipment. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know.
You can ship from Tanzania to the US using ocean or air freight.
Ocean freight is the most popular way to ship goods from Tanzania to the US. This is because of its affordability and flexibility. Ocean freight can accommodate any type of cargo that needs to be transported to the US. It even offers shippers two container shipping options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL).
LCL is used by shippers of small cargo. Here, their goods will be consolidated with shipments from other sellers and shipped together in one container. Each shipper will only need to pay for the space their goods occupy, making this an economical shipping option.
FCL is where a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. This gives them more space, control, and security for their shipment. Although FCL is more expensive than LCL, it can provide good value for money if the space inside the container is maximized with large shipments.
Another way to transport freight from Tanzania to the US is through air freight. The fastest mode of international shipping, air freight can get cargo to its destination in a matter of days. This makes it highly suitable for time-sensitive and perishable shipments.
It’s also the most secure way to ship goods, with strict airport regulations and processes helping guarantee cargo security during transit. Thus, air freight is preferred by shippers of high-value commodities.
It’s worth noting, however, that air freight isn’t budget-friendly. Its shipping fees can be significantly higher than ocean freight. It’s also not as flexible, unable to accommodate all types of cargo and putting limits on your shipment’s size, weight, and volume.
The cost of shipping cargo from Tanzania to the US will depend on several factors. These include:
To determine your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. Additionally, you can find the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Tanzania to the US in the table below:
TRADE LANE RATES
The cost of shipping cargo from Tanzania to the US will depend on several factors. These include:
Ocean freight from Tanzania to the US will take 15-50 days.
Air freight from Tanzania to the US will take 2-8 days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
Once your goods land in a US port or airport, they will go through the customs clearance process. For this, you need the following documents:
If you need examples of these customs clearance requirements, take a look at our full documents list.
When choosing the right mode of shipping for you, you need to consider your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo. Here are some pointers to help you make the right decision.
Ocean freight is a good option for shippers on a budget or those transporting cargo with special requirements. This is because it can accommodate any type of cargo while having shipping fees that don’t break the bank.
Ocean freight also allows you to optimize your shipment with two options for container shipping.
LCL is best for cargo that is:
FCL is better for cargo that is:
Air freight is for shipments that need to get to the US fast. It’s the fastest mode of international shipping, often taking only 2-8 days to complete. Thus, air freight is suitable for time-sensitive and perishable goods.
It’s also pretty secure, with strict airport regulations helping guarantee the protection of your cargo during transit. If you are shipping high-value goods, then it’s best to use air freight.
Before deciding to ship by air, remember that air freight’s costs can be significantly higher than ocean freight. It’s also not flexible and cannot accommodate cargo of all types, sizes, weights, and volumes.
The Port of Dar es Salaam is the fourth biggest facility on the Indian Ocean coast of Africa. It’s also Tanzania’s busiest port, handling over 90% of its international maritime trade. The port has a capacity of 10 million tonnes of cargo per year, including 4 million tonnes of dry general cargo, 6 million tonnes of liquid bulk, and 1 million tonnes of containers.
The Port of Tanga is the longest-serving facility in the East African region. It’s the second biggest port in Tanzania, serving the northern part of the country. The port exports goods such as cement, timber, fertilizers, tea, beans, and coffee. It handles over 700,000 tonnes per year.
The Port of Mtwara is Tanzania’s third major deepwater port. It lies at the mouth of the Mturara River in the southern part of the country. The port handles general cargo, with the main exports being cashew nuts, sisal, and cassava roots. It sees over 750,000 million tonnes of cargo annually.
The Port of Long Beach is the second busiest port in North America, handling over 8 million TEUs per year. It boasts 80 cargo berths within its 3,200-acre land area, allowing it to handle all types of commodities. The port has an annual container value of $180 billion.
The Port of Houston is among North America's largest and busiest ports, handling over 3 million TEUs per year. It’s an essential hub for containerized cargo, able to handle a wide range of goods from consumer products to steel and machinery.
The Port of Seattle-Tacoma is one of the largest container ports in North America, handling over 4 million TEUs per year. The port boasts a range of terminals that allow it to handle a wide range of goods, including containerized cargo, agricultural products, and automobiles.
The Julius Nyerere International Airport is located in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. It is a central hub for Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, Flightlink, and more. In recent years, the airport handled over 15,800 metric tonnes of cargo.
The Kilimanjaro International Airport is located in the district of Hai in the region of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It serves the cities of Moshi and Arusha. The airport is a hub for Precision Air. It sees over 19.7 thousand aircraft movements per year and handles more than 3,200 tonnes of cargo annually.
The Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport is a public airport located 14 miles north of the Forth Worth central business district in the US state of Texas. It’s a central hub for FedEx Express and a major focus city of Amazon Air.
The Orlando International Airport is the primary international airport for downtown Orlando in the US state of Florida. It’s the busiest airport in the state, with over 19.6 million enplanements. The airport handles over 212,000 tonnes of freight per year.
The Laredo International Airport is located three miles northeast of downtown Laredo in Webb County, Texas. It is a non-hub primary commercial service airport categorized by the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. It sees over 45,000 aircraft operations annually.
Shipping cargo is influenced by various factors, including the season, shipment size, shipping method, and the starting and ending locations.
iContainers, with years of industry expertise, combines traditional freight forwarding services with modern technology to enhance your convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage every aspect of your shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Reach out to us for a free quote whenever you need. We are always ready to assist you with the information you need.
About Us
Shipping cargo involves multiple factors, including the season, the size of the shipment, the shipping method, and the origin and destination points.
Leveraging years of industry experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services with modern technological enhancements for customer convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage your shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always ready to give you the information you need.