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Markets · Tanzania

Source from China, land it cleanly in Dar es Salaam.

We sit between Tanzanian importers and Chinese factories: verify the supplier, hold the payment leverage, and run the shipment into the Port of Dar es Salaam. One contract, in our name.

The China to Tanzania corridor runs through the Port of Dar es Salaam, the main sea gateway for the country and a transit point for much of the region. Most cargo from China transships through hubs such as Salalah, Colombo or Jebel Ali before reaching Dar, so the route is not fast and the documentation has to be right the first time. Makehe handles the corridor end to end: supplier verification, quality control before the factory is paid, freight to Dar es Salaam, and customs handover through licensed clearing agents.

What Tanzanian importers source from China
Building materials and hardware

Tiles, sanitaryware, steel and aluminium profiles, fittings and construction hardware for the building trade.

Machinery and spare parts

Agricultural and light industrial machinery, generators, pumps, and replacement parts for existing equipment.

Consumer electronics and electricals

Phones and accessories, solar kits and batteries, small appliances, lighting and cabling.

Textiles, footwear and household goods

Apparel, fabric, shoes, kitchenware, plastics and general retail stock for resale.

Shipping from China to Dar es Salaam

We book sea freight as full or shared containers and use air freight for urgent or high-value cargo. Transit times below are indicative and depend on sailing schedules, transshipment, and customs at both ends.

Shanghai/Ningbo to Dar es Salaam
Sea FCL
typically ~30-40 days
Shenzhen/Qingdao to Dar es Salaam
Sea LCL (consolidated)
typically ~35-45 days
Guangzhou/Shenzhen to Dar es Salaam
Air freight
roughly ~5-9 days

Transit times are indicative and vary with carrier, season and customs.

Payments and milestones

You plan landed cost in TZS, then settle with us in a major international currency rather than wiring an unknown factory in China. We structure escrowed milestone payments — usually a deposit on order and the balance released only after pre-shipment inspection passes. Where your order suits it, we coordinate a Letter of Credit with your own bank. Makehe is a sourcing agent that intermediates payment, not a bank or lender.

How our payments work →
Local office in Dar es Salaam

Our Dar es Salaam office is your local point of contact in the same time zone and language. Talk through requirements, paperwork and shipment status in person or by phone, while sourcing, QC and supplier payment run from our Shanghai head office. The team works in English and Swahili.

Common questions
How long does shipping from China to Tanzania take?

Sea freight to the Port of Dar es Salaam typically runs roughly 30-40 days for full containers, with consolidated LCL a little longer, because most cargo transships through a regional hub. Air freight is far quicker, usually a handful of days. We confirm an indicative window per shipment against live sailing schedules.

Who clears my goods at the Port of Dar es Salaam?

We hand the shipment to licensed clearing agents who lodge the entry with the Tanzania Revenue Authority and clear it at the port. You receive the shipping documents you need. We do not invent duty or tax figures — your clearing agent confirms the exact charges against the tariff for your goods.

How do I avoid losing money to a Chinese supplier?

You contract with Makehe, not the factory. The payment is structured as escrowed milestones, and the balance is released only after pre-shipment inspection passes. If the goods do not match the agreed specification, the leverage to enforce rework, replacement or refund stays with us before the factory is paid in full.

Can I budget the whole cost before I commit?

Yes. We quote the product, freight to Dar es Salaam and our fee up front so you can plan landed cost in TZS before placing the order. Customs duties and VAT are confirmed by your clearing agent against the applicable tariff.

Next step

Ready to expand your business with China?

Let us handle the complexity while you focus on growth. Get in touch today for a free consultation or sourcing quote.

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