Customs clearance of used clothing in Tanzania – TBS, the Port of Dar es Salaam and assortment selection

Exporting used clothing to Tanzania is not just about shipping a container. It also means selecting the right assortment, preparing the documentation and clearing the goods smoothly at the port of Dar es Salaam. Anyone interested in exporting used clothing to East Africa, including Tanzania, will learn from this article how to prepare a shipment, which documents are needed, how container clearance works and what to watch out for to limit the risk of extra costs and delays.

• Match the assortment to the destination market's needs – climate, prices and customer preferences in Tanzania should drive what goes into the containers.
• Prepare complete documentation – the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Conformity, Bill of Lading and other required documents should be consistent and ready before shipment.
• Plan clearance in Dar es Salaam – working with a local customs agent helps carry out the formalities and container pick-up smoothly.
• Calculate the full delivery cost – besides the price of the clothing and freight, factor in duty, taxes, port fees, customs handling and any delay costs, all of which affect how profitable used clothing import to Tanzania turns out to be.

What is TBS and why does it matter for used clothing export?

Exporting used clothing to Tanzania means knowing that used clothing import is subject in this country not only to customs procedures but also to conformity checks on product quality and safety requirements. In this area, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) plays the key role – the state body responsible for setting and enforcing standards and for checking the conformity of specific groups of imported goods.

Tanzania Bureau of Standards

TBS acts as Tanzania's national standardisation body and takes part in inspecting imported products covered by the relevant requirements. Among other tools, it uses the Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) system, designed to check that specific products meet the applicable standards before they are shipped to Tanzania. What does this mean in practice? PVoC procedures may include physical inspections, conformity checks, document verification, laboratory testing, and, in justified cases, audits of facilities and warehouses.

The exporter's priority is therefore to establish whether the goods in question are covered by these procedures. How is this done? The correct HS code must be established for the specific goods, and it must then be checked whether they fall under PVoC. TBS publishes lists of HS codes covered by PVoC regulation, and it is worth knowing that many clothing categories appear on this list.

Requirements for used clothing

When preparing used clothing for export, attention should focus above all on the type of product, its condition, how it has been prepared, and whether the container's contents match the documentation.

One of the most important points is eliminating products whose import into Tanzania is banned outright, such as used underwear, used towels or used medical clothing. Damaged or stained goods should also be avoided. In practice, this means that even a mixed batch of used clothing must go through at least a basic selection process.

TBS certification – used clothing

If the goods are subject to PVoC, an inspection application must be filed with a certification company authorised by TBS, such as Intertek, SGS or TÜV Rheinland. Before the inspector arrives, it is worth preparing a complete set of documents and the goods themselves in a way that allows the inspection to run smoothly. The key elements are:

• the Commercial Invoice,
• the Packing List, which contains a detailed description and specification of the goods in the shipment,
• including an exact description of the goods, the quantity and weight of individual batches, packaging data,
• and the correct HS classification,
• exporter and importer details,
• other documents required under the PVoC procedure.

If the inspection reveals no irregularities, the goods are issued a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), serving as proof that the shipment meets the required standards. Under current TBS guidelines, the CoC is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

It is worth noting here that goods subject to PVoC that arrive in Tanzania without a CoC may still be subjected to a detailed on-site inspection at the importer's expense. A penalty of 15% of the invoice value of the PVoC-covered goods may also be added. What's more, if the inspection finds that the goods do not meet the requirements, they may be sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer's expense.

This is exactly why checking the container's contents before shipment is a far better solution than trying to explain discrepancies only once the goods reach the destination port.

Documents needed for exporting used clothing to Tanzania

The documents must not only be complete but also consistent with each other and with the container's actual contents. It is also worth remembering that some documents are required by TBS, and others under TRA customs procedures.

The used clothing exporter is responsible for preparing documents such as the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, purchase documents for the goods, and documents related to the PVoC procedure. The carrier prepares the Bill of Lading based on data supplied by the exporter. The importer, in turn, who should use a licensed customs agent (Clearing and Forwarding Agent), is responsible for preparing the TANSAD documents for the TANCIS customs system.

The port of Dar es Salaam – how does container clearance work?

The port of Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's main seaport and one of the country's most important entry points for imported goods. According to the Tanzania Ports Authority, around 95% of Tanzania's international trade passes through this port. The port also handles transit goods bound for the landlocked countries of East and Central Africa, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Once the ship arrives, the container is unloaded and entered into the port's systems. The clearance process then begins. In simplified terms, the steps run as follows:

• container unloading,
• submission of customs documentation,
• customs declaration and assessment,
• any cargo inspection,
• payment of customs duty and other required charges,
• issuance of the Release Order - the document confirming that customs clearance is complete,
• issuance of the Delivery Order - the document authorising release of the cargo to the named consignee,
• payment of port fees, settled on the basis of the B/L, Delivery Order and Release Order,
• arranging pick-up,
• issuance of the Gate-in Ticket - the entry document for the container terminal,
• release of the container.

It is worth knowing that the importer should use an agent who acts as an intermediary between them and the institutions involved in clearance. The agent's role includes preparing and filing the customs declaration, verifying documents, preparing the TANSAD documents, handling customs payments, obtaining the Release Order and Delivery Order, and settling port fees. With a proven customs agent, clearing used clothing in Tanzania runs quickly and smoothly.

The exporter should hand the importer documents such as the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Conformity and Bill of Lading before the containers arrive at the port of Dar es Salaam, so the importer can pass them on to the agent early enough. This matters, because delays most often occur at the document-preparation stage. Meanwhile, every extra day spent waiting for clearance at the port increases port fees and generates storage charges. That, in turn, translates into a higher total cost for the container and lower profits on the sale of the clothing.

Also find out how used clothing (mitumba) import from the USA to Kenya works!

Assortment selection – what to send to Tanzania?

When ordering used clothing for export to Tanzania, it is worth remembering that the choice of clothing should match local demand, climate, and consumers' purchasing power. It is worth considering preferred styles, sizes and categories, rather than shipping a random mix of clothing.

A shipment may include, among other things, T-shirts, trousers, jeans, shirts, dresses, skirts, sweatshirts, light jackets, children's, sports and work clothing, footwear and accessories. For every category chosen, attention should be paid to quality, demand, seasonality and the packing method. In general, for Tanzania the categories that work best are Grade A and Grade B.

On the other hand, goods banned for import into Tanzania should not be included, such as used underwear, used high-visibility clothing, or used hospital clothing. Loading heavily worn, damaged or stained clothing should also be avoided, as well as products unsuited to the local climate and preferences. It is likewise not worth overloading the container with categories of uncertain demand or low value, since in that case transport and clearance costs can eat up the margin.

Find out where to sell used clothing from the USA?

Which mistakes to avoid when exporting used clothing to Tanzania?

Exporting used clothing to Tanzania can be a profitable business, but the financial result does not depend on the purchase price of the goods alone. A large share of the problems arise at the stage of preparing the assortment, the documentation, transport and clearance at the port of Dar es Salaam. Which mistakes should be avoided to keep export profitable?

Shipping a random mix of clothing

One of the basic mistakes is treating the container as a place to offload everything that could not be sold in other markets. Such a mix may contain too many low-value items, items unsuited to the local market's needs, and even items banned by regulation, the shipment of which can create problems at the customs-clearance stage.

When we prepare goods for export to countries such as Tanzania, we take into account both the legal requirements and the specifics of the destination market. This is how maximum profits can be achieved.

No inspection of the container's contents before shipment

Failing to check what has actually been loaded into the containers makes it harder to prepare the documentation and to clarify any discrepancies between the exporter, the importer and the logistics company. Not knowing the cargo's contents can also result in delays in going through customs procedures and in financial penalties.

Underestimating port costs

The purchase price of the clothing and the sea freight are only part of the total cost of the operation. The importer incurs various costs related to, among other things, customs clearance, the customs agent's services, and port fees. Failing to account for these costs can mean that a delivery that looked profitable at the point of purchasing the goods ends up with a much lower margin once all the costs are added. It is therefore worth taking every cost into account when calculating profitability, which is of course something we help our clients with.

Not preparing complete documentation

A missing document, or inconsistent data between documents, can delay the clearance procedure and generate unnecessary costs. That is why documents should be prepared well in advance and handed to the importer or their customs agent before the ship arrives – something we take great care over when working with used clothing exporters and importers.

Planning to export used clothing to Tanzania? Get in touch with us!