Tanzania's mineral sales have reached 7.78 trillion in the first six months of the year, according to the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade). This represents about 66.5 percent of the 11.7 trillion recorded during the whole of 2025. The significant growth in the mining sector was announced by TanTrade Deputy Director General, Fredy Liundi, during the opening of the Ninth Mining Technology Exhibition in Geita.
The six-month performance reflects sustained expansion in the mining sector, with sales already accounting for nearly two-thirds of last year's annual earnings. According to Mr. Liundi, the increase in mineral sales demonstrates the positive results of the government's continued efforts to strengthen the mining sector. He attributed the stronger performance to increased participation by licensed small, medium, and large-scale miners in the formal market.
The growth in mineral sales has also been supported by the Bank of Tanzania's (BoT) Domestic Gold Purchase Programme. Under this program, the central bank has bought 34 tonnes of gold worth 4.7 billion US dollars from licensed small-, medium- and large-scale miners operating within the formal system since 2024. This has increased the country's foreign exchange reserves by 2.05 billion US dollars in less than two years.
The BoT's gold purchase program has pushed total foreign exchange reserves to 6.03 billion US dollars, enough to cover more than four months of imports. Senior Financial Analyst in BoT's Financial Markets Directorate, Glory Maembe, said the program has progressed rapidly due to close cooperation with various stakeholders in the mining sector, including the Ministry of Minerals and the Mining Commission.
The Ministry of Minerals has announced plans to expand detailed geophysical survey coverage from the current 16 percent to 50 percent of the country's land area by 2030. This aims to unlock new mineral-rich areas and reduce exploration costs for small-scale miners. Deputy Minister for Minerals, Steven Kiruswa, said the expanded survey will generate more accurate geological data and identify new mineral-bearing areas.
The growth in mineral sales is a significant achievement for the government, which has been working to strengthen the mining sector. Annual mineral sales stood at about 7.2 trillion in 2021 when President Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed office. The latest performance is evidence of continued growth under ongoing sector reforms.
The government has been working to improve the business environment and expand regulated mineral trading. The increased participation by licensed miners in the formal market has strengthened revenue collection across the sector. The BoT has set a target of purchasing 20 tonnes of gold during the current financial year, but purchases have already reached 34 tonnes.
Key points
- Tanzania's mineral sales have reached 7.78 trillion in the first six months of the year.
- The growth in mineral sales is attributed to increased participation by licensed miners in the formal market.
- The Bank of Tanzania's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme has supported the growth in mineral sales.
