The Bank of Tanzania’s Monthly Economic Review for October 2025 reports that the country’s gold export earnings for the year ending September 2025 reached a record USD 4,431.2 million, up from USD 3,263.9 million in the same period last year, cementing gold’s position as Tanzania’s top export commodity.
The sharp rise in gold export receipts was primarily driven by elevated global gold prices, spurred by increased demand from central banks diversifying their reserves and growing geopolitical uncertainty that has fueled a “safe-haven” rush among investors.
According to the report, Tanzania’s total exports of goods and services rose to USD 17,094.2 million in the year ending September 2025, compared to USD 14,896.3 million in the corresponding period of 2024, with gold playing a pivotal role in the overall growth.
Traditional exports climbed to USD 1,483.9 million, representing a 38.3 percent increase, largely driven by strong performances in cashew nuts and tobacco exports, supported by both higher prices and larger export volumes.
Meanwhile, service receipts reached USD 6,973.9 million in the year ending September 2025, up from USD 6,667.1 million a year earlier.
For the second consecutive month, gold earnings surpassed tourism revenues, which stood at USD 3,885.2 million in the year ending September 2025.
The report further notes that by the end of September 2025, Tanzania’s foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 6,664.2 million, sufficient to cover more than five months of projected imports of goods and services—well above both national and East African Community (EAC) benchmarks.
