The increase was 11.3%, or US$18.5 million, from US$163.1 million in the preceding year, according to the Bank of Tanzania‘s September 2026 Monthly Economic Review. The result strengthens the case for investment in seafood processing, cold storage and export logistics.
Tanzania Fish Export Earnings 2026
| US$181.6 million | Export earnings, year ending August 2026 Bank of Tanzania, September 2026 Monthly Economic Review |
| 11.3% | Annual increase in fish export earnings Bank of Tanzania, September 2026 Monthly Economic Review |
| 57,000–60,000 tonnes | Annual export volume Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, 2026 |
Source: Bank of Tanzania, September 2026 Monthly Economic Review
Freshwater fisheries lead exports
Tanzania exports between 57,000 and 60,000 tonnes of fish products each year, according to Professor Mohamed Sheikh, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. Lake Victoria supplies an estimated 80% to 85% of export volumes, he said. Nile perch leads this trade, with fillets reaching buyers in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Other products include sardines from Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. Fish maws also serve buyers in China and Hong Kong. Export markets include China, Hong Kong, the United States, the European Union and several African countries, according to ministry information reported by The Citizen.
By FurtherAfrica’s reading of the numbers, the sector’s strongest near-term opportunity lies in lifting value per tonne.
| Indicator | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Export earnings, year ending August 2026 | US$181.6 million |
| Export earnings, preceding year | US$163.1 million |
| Annual export volume | 57,000–60,000 tonnes |
| Lake Victoria export share | 80%–85% |
| Marine export share | About 15% |
These figures come from the Bank of Tanzania’s September 2026 review and ministry information for 2026. Tanzania’s broader export momentum is visible across commodities: Tanzania avocado exports surged 120% to reach US$97 million in the same period, signalling wide agricultural competitiveness.
What does the growth mean for investors?
Marine fisheries remain relatively small within Tanzania’s export mix. Crabs and lobsters from the Indian Ocean account for roughly 15% of national fish export volumes, according to Sheikh. That share points to an infrastructure gap and a potential investment channel.
Modern landing sites, ports, dedicated markets and cold storage could support higher-value marine shipments. Meanwhile, processing improvements are already supporting market access.
Hashim Mumin, coordinator of the Fish4ACP project, said improved smoking kilns and energy-efficient stoves reduce smoke exposure and contamination risks. The project has also supplied solar-powered freezers around Lake Tanganyika. It established ice plants in Kigoma and Uvinza, while a third is planned for Tanganyika District in Katavi Region.
Each plant can produce 15 tonnes of ice daily, according to project information reported in 2026. Solar power has reduced production costs by 50%, Mumin said. Reliable ice protects quality after landing. It also gives processors more time to reach export markets.
Fish4ACP has supported training in marketing, financial literacy and fisheries regulation. It has also worked with financial institutions and the University of Dar es Salaam Business School. Tanzania’s growth trajectory across sectors — with the economy forecast to expand 6.1% in 2026 — gives the fisheries sector a supportive macroeconomic backdrop.
‘Better cold chains can convert Tanzania’s fisheries growth into higher export value,’ said Hashim Mumin, coordinator of the Fish4ACP project.
The next signal for investors will be progress on coastal cold-chain projects, marine processing capacity and updated fish-stock data from Lake Tanganyika.
Quick answers
Tanzania earned US$181.6 million, up 11.3% from US$163.1 million in the preceding year, according to the Bank of Tanzania’s September 2026 Monthly Economic Review.
Lake Victoria contributes an estimated 80% to 85% of export volumes, led by Nile perch, according to Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
Opportunities include seafood processing, coastal cold storage, modern landing sites, ice production and export logistics, especially for marine products from the Indian Ocean.
