DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzania’s mineral trade through official mineral market centres reached a provisional TZS6.85 trillion in the 2025/26 financial year, highlighting the growing value of mineral transactions conducted through formal channels.
Data shows mineral sales at approximately TZS6.85 trillion, up 73.3 percent from revised sales of about TZS3.95 trillion in 2024/25. The reported value was more than double the approximately TZS2.46 trillion recorded in 2023/24. The figures are provisional and refer to sales through official market centres, rather than the entire value of Tanzania’s mining industry.
The increase was attributed in the report to higher gold sales, stronger formalisation of mineral trading and increased activity across major mining regions. The figures point to the importance of official markets in recording transactions and connecting mineral producers with buyers.
For the wider economy, mineral sales can support export earnings and government revenue through applicable taxes, royalties, fees and other payments. However, the total value of sales should not be confused with government revenue or the profits earned by mining businesses. Those amounts depend on applicable charges, production costs, prices and other factors.
The growth may also create opportunities beyond the extraction of minerals. Traders, transport companies, equipment suppliers, security providers, accommodation businesses and technical service firms can support mining activity. Local businesses may benefit when operators and mineral traders purchase goods and services domestically.
Small-scale miners and traders can also benefit from formal markets where these provide transparent pricing, regulated transactions and access to buyers. Participation in formal channels can help make mineral trade more traceable, although access to finance, equipment, reliable market information and compliance with regulations remain important considerations.
The next question is how much of the value generated by mining remains within Tanzania. Greater participation by local suppliers, investment in skills and competitive mineral-related services could help spread the benefits across more businesses and communities.
The latest figures indicate strong growth in recorded mineral sales, but they do not by themselves establish how evenly the benefits are distributed. Understanding that impact will require looking at government collections, local procurement, employment, export performance and the development of businesses linked to the sector.
