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Customs and clearing

Transit cargo to Zambia and the DRC through Tanzania

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 8 sources

Short answer

Goods for Zambia and the DRC land at Dar es Salaam and are entered for transit under the EAC Customs Management Act, which defines transit as movement of foreign goods through a partner state 1. TPA gives transit import containers 15 free storage days after discharge and TRA posting 2. Road cargo for Zambia crosses at the Tunduma and Nakonde One Stop Border Post 3. Daily News reported 7.77 million tonnes of transit cargo for the DRC and 3.41 million tonnes for Zambia in 2025/26 4.
Customs law
EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 1
Entry type
Transit entry, within 21 days after discharge starts, section 34(1) 1
Free storage, transit import containers
15 days after discharge and TRA posting 2
Free storage, transit export containers
21 days 2
Zambia border post
Tunduma/Nakonde One Stop Border Post 3
TPA offices abroad
Lubumbashi and Kolwezi (DRC), Lusaka (Zambia) 5
Cargo tracking
TRA Electronic Cargo Tracking System for transit cargo under customs control 6

The customs rules

The EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 defines transit as the movement of goods imported from a foreign place through the territory of one or more Partner States 1. Imported goods must be entered within 21 days after discharge starts, and transit is one of the permitted entry types 1.

Sections 18 and 19 on import controls do not apply to goods in transit. The goods must be re-exported within the time and conditions the Commissioner sets, or they are deemed prohibited or restricted goods 1. The Act lets partner states set the roads or routes over which transit goods move 1. Sections 85 to 87 deal with transit control and the end of the transit procedure 1.

Port storage and charges at Dar es Salaam

The TPA Deep Sea Tariff Book dated January 2026 gives transit cargo longer free storage than local cargo 2. All amounts are in US dollars.

CargoFree periodCharge after
Transit import containers 215 days after discharge and TRA posting 2US$20 or US$40 a day for days 16 to 21, then US$40 or US$80, by size 2
Transit export containers 221 days 2US$16 or US$32 a day, by size 2
Transit conventional imports 215 days 2US$1.00 per HTN a day for 30 days, then US$1.50 2
Transit containers at ICD Kwala 260 days 2US$20 or US$40 a day for days 61 to 74, then US$40 or US$80 2

Wharfage and handling for transit

  • Transit full container imports pay wharfage of US$90 for up to 20 feet and US$180 above. Domestic containers pay 1.6% ad valorem 2.
  • Transit conventional imports pay wharfage of US$4.00 per HTN, against 1.6% ad valorem for domestic imports 2.
  • Transit exports of coffee, copper and other metals get a free storage cushion of up to 3,500 tons 2.
  • Port Infrastructure Development charges apply only to domestic imports. Green Port charges apply to both 2.

Borders, tracking and TPA offices

TRA lists Tunduma/Nakonde as the working One Stop Border Post with Zambia. Goods, people and vehicles stop once for exit and entry checks 3.

TRA runs the Electronic Cargo Tracking System for real-time monitoring of transit cargo under customs control. A TradeMark Africa project with TRA ran from April 2019 to June 2021 and planned routes to the DRC and other Central Corridor states 6. TPA lists its own offices in Lubumbashi and Kolwezi in the DRC and in Lusaka, Zambia 5.

The TRA Single Customs Territory page names Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda for direct import handling. It does not name Zambia or the DRC 7.

Volumes

Two reports in 2026 used different periods. They are shown side by side.

  • Daily News reported that TAZARA works that moved forward in July included a new operations control centre and training centre in Dar es Salaam 4.
  • Daily News reported that talks with the government over border fees and taxes may be one factor in the fall in Zambia cargo. The paper presented this as a possible factor only 4.
ReportPeriodDRCZambiaAll transit
The Guardian, 7 July 2026, citing port authorities 8Calendar 2025 87,239,741 tonnes, up 73.2% 83.5 million tonnes, period not stated 814,250,087 tonnes 8
Daily News, 2 October 2026, source of transit figures not named 4Financial year 2025/26 47.77 million tonnes, up 30% 43.41 million tonnes 414.61 million tonnes, up 17% 4

Common questions

How many free storage days do transit containers get at Dar es Salaam port?

Transit import containers get 15 days after discharge and TRA posting. Transit export containers get 21 days 2.

Which border post do trucks use from Tanzania to Zambia?

TRA lists Tunduma/Nakonde as the One Stop Border Post with Zambia 3.

Is transit cargo to the DRC tracked?

TRA runs an Electronic Cargo Tracking System for transit cargo under customs control. A TradeMark Africa project planned routes to the DRC 6.

How much transit cargo goes to the DRC through Dar es Salaam?

Daily News reported 7.77 million tonnes in 2025/26 4. The Guardian reported 7,239,741 tonnes for 2025 8.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@tanzaniatradesystems.com.

Sources

  1. East African Community: East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, Revised Edition 2011, copy hosted by Rwanda Revenue Authority (June 2011)
  2. Tanzania Ports Authority: Deep Sea Tariff Book (January 2026)
  3. Tanzania Revenue Authority: One Stop Border Post (OSBP) (accessed 24 October 2026)
  4. Daily News: Dar es Salaam transit cargo rises 17% as corridor competition shifts (2 October 2026)
  5. Tanzania Ports Authority: FAQ (accessed 24 October 2026)
  6. TradeMark Africa, project page: Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) (accessed 24 October 2026)
  7. Tanzania Revenue Authority: Single Customs Territory (SCT) (accessed 24 October 2026)
  8. The Guardian (IPP Media): DRC top transit cargo market after 73pc increase in tonnage (7 July 2026)

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