A retaliatory ban on agricultural imports from two South African Development Community (SADC)’s members by TZ has ended amicably.
The lifting of the temporary embargo came just two days after Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture Hussein Bashe had halted agricultural imports.
A statement by the Plant Health and Pesticide Authority of Tanzania (TPHPA) on late April 26, 2025 cited diplomacy for the reinstitution.
The Reuters story cited TPHPA’s director general Joseph Ndunguru saying that both Pretoria and Lilongwe had independently reached out.
This effectively means that South Africa and Malawi can dispatch agri-food cargo to the East African nation.
Malawi will also resume imports of the all-important fertilizer from Tanzania, and gain shipping transit via Dar-es-Salaam.
TZ-SA Mutual Politics
Interestingly, the independent decision between South Africa and Tanzania has patriotic overtones as both countries recently celebrated national days.
While April 26 marked the 61st Union Anniversary between Tangayika and Zanzibar, on the 27th South Africa observed its National Freedom day.
Notably, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations & Cooperation Ronald Lamola hailed the import restitution as a mark of pan-Africanism.
Both countries together with Malawi are members of SADC, a trade body with shared pan-African heritage.
Phytosanitary Concerns
Although there exists no tariffs between the three nations, phytosanitary concern is a deep source of historical agricultural trade spats.
For one, South Africa hinted at low aseptic standards as a reason for its recent ban on Tanzania’s bananas.
Historically, Pretoria had also restricted avocados from Dar for a decade until health concerns were resolved.
In 2021, South Africa published the phytosanitary requirements for avocado imports from Tanzania and quoted the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983.
Whichever resolution stems from the upcoming talks, what is important now is that the tripartite embargo is over. To learn more on trade between the three nations, skim the statistics section below.
Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi Agricultural Trade Statistics
South Africa is Tanzania’s second biggest export destination with exports worth $1.12 billion, as of 2023, per Trading Economics. The bulk is mostly precious stones such as gold and textile. Agricultural produce is mostly tobacco at $19.52 million, alongside tea, coffee and spices at $7.90 million, as of 2023. Malawi on the other hand is more of an importer than exporter in its trade with Tanzania. In 2023, Lilongwe shipped goods worth $38.2 million to Dar, almost all agricultural, while it imported $215 million from Dar, mostly non-agricultural.
Which products does SA import from TZ?
Only 0.4% of SA’s agricultural imports come from TZ. Most of these are tea leaves, coffee and tobacco. South Africa also imports a little amount of bananas from Tanzania since 74% of its supplies comes from Mozambique and 19% from Eswatini.
Which agricultural products does Malawi trade with Tanzania?
As of 2023, soymeal topped Malawi’s exports to Tanzania at $9.79 million, followed by soybeans at $.16 million. Dried legumes finished the top three at $4.95 million, according to OEC. On the flip side, the leading agricultural product that Malawi orders from Tanzania is salt, at $5.03 million annually (2023). The country also imports fertilizers from its northern partner, and also uses Tanzania’s Dar-es-Salaam port for shipping.