Tanzania raises log tariffs

In Tanzania, furniture manufacturers began to import materials instead of logs, or to avoid excessive tariffs through imported logs from Mozambique, Gabon, the Congo, and the Gulf Coast.

Dar said at a committee meeting that he hopes the government will attach great importance to the new tariff policy on timber, because the current tariff is 300%. Manufacturers complain that preferring to import materials is also cheaper than using local wood.

Rwabusimbi also hopes that the government can transfer the tariff back to 80,000 per cubic metre a few years ago. Only with low prices will there be more opportunities to increase market penetration and increase employment opportunities. Since 2009, increasing tariffs have led to the closure of a number of factories and 400 workers have been laid off. He once again expressed the hope that the government would raise the import tax on furniture to protect the local wood industry.