Rice and maize topped Tanzania's exports to the East African Community (EAC) partner states last year.
During 2020, the country's total trade with EAC partner states amounted to $1,136.9 million, higher than $1,003.6million in the previous year.
This was revealed through a dispatch by the EAC secretariat as Tanzania marked the 60th independence anniversary on Thursday.
Several regional leaders including the current EAC Chair President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya joined President Samia Suluhu Hassan in marking the day at Uhuru stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The dispatch to the media said the second largest economy in the region has been recording a trade surplus since 2016.
"That reflects Tanzania's increase in exports to five partner states; Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan", it said.
Most of the country's exports were, however, destined to Kenya, followed by Rwanda and Uganda.
Besides the cereals, the others were cattle, edible vegetables (mostly onions), agricultural wastes, coffee, tea, spices and paper and paper products.
On the import side, Tanzania's significant imports were from Kenya and Uganda, soap and soap products being among them.
Others were pharmaceutical products, plastic items, sugar confectionery and electric equipment.
Last year, the total trade in the EAC region stood at $ 51,915million from $55,278.2 million in 2019, a seven percent drop.
In the same period, total EAC exports rose by three percent to $16,257million from $15,938million in 2019.
"Tanzania has contributed immensely in increasing intra-EAC trade and development opportunities", said Peter Mathuki, the EAC secretary general.
He cited the country's commitment to the EAC Common Market Protocol in which it was the first country in the bloc to successfully issu the EA e-passports.
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