TZ Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
Tanzania, United Republic Of uses the ISO country prefix TZ. A UN/LOCODE normally combines this country prefix with a three-character location identifier, such as TZDAR for Dar Es Salaam.
Seaports in Tanzania, United Republic Of: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Tanzania, United Republic Of has 18 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as an important Indian Ocean gateway for East African trade and landlocked regional markets.
Explore port codes, cargo gateways, regional roles and indicative shipping routes for Tanzania, United Republic Of.
Tanzania, United Republic Of Port Overview
Tanzania, United Republic Of has a coastline on the western Indian Ocean, with Dar Es Salaam serving as the principal container and general-cargo gateway. Zanzibar, Tanga and Mtwara provide additional maritime access, while the country’s corridors connect coastal cargo with inland markets in East and Central Africa.
18
Tanzania, United Republic Of ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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Official national port cargo throughput, 2025; YoY change not published on a consolidated basis
MOT 2025 public statistics
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Official national container throughput in TEU, 2025; YoY change not published on a consolidated basis
TPA 2025 public statistics
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Official national commercial berth count, 2025; YoY change not published on a consolidated basis
TPA 2025 public statistics
How many seaports does Tanzania, United Republic Of have?
Tanzania, United Republic Of has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage figure, not a claim that all locations have the same commercial or container-port status.
What is the largest or busiest port in Tanzania, United Republic Of?
Dar Es Salaam, UN/LOCODE TZDAR, is generally the country’s principal seaport and container gateway. It handles a broad mix of containerized, general and project cargo and supports inland distribution corridors.
Which areas handle the main maritime cargo flows?
The central coast around Dar Es Salaam is the leading cargo concentration, while Tanga in the north and Mtwara in the south provide important regional and bulk-cargo capacity. Zanzibar also serves island and tourism-related supply chains.
Top Ports in Tanzania, United Republic Of
The table below reflects the leading ports and terminals in the Ecer Freight country sample, ordered by operational relevance. Tanzania, United Republic Of does not have a consistently published, comparable 2025 global league table for every listed location; therefore, World rank, throughput and YoY fields are shown as unavailable rather than estimated.
Selected principal ports and cargo gateways; 2025 throughput figures require confirmation from the relevant port authority or carrier.
Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Central Coast
The central coast is the country’s primary maritime logistics cluster and the main interface between ocean services, container terminals and inland transport corridors.
Central coast ports in the indexed sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar Es Salaam | TZDAR | Dar Es Salaam / — | Container, general cargo, vehicles and project freight |
| Bagamoyo | TZBGY | Pwani Region / — | Coastal and regional cargo potential |
Northern Coast
Northern coastal ports support cargo flows serving northern Tanzania and nearby cross-border markets, with Tanga representing the principal named gateway in this cluster.
Northern coast ports in the indexed sample
Zanzibar and Island Cluster
The Zanzibar cluster supports island distribution, consumer goods, tourism-related supplies and regional maritime services. City and terminal-level records may appear separately in port-code systems.
Zanzibar and island ports in the indexed sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar | TZZNZ | Zanzibar / — | Island container, general cargo and consumer supplies |
| Zanzibar | TZZAI | — / — | City or terminal-level port-code reference |
| Pemba Island | TZPBI | Pemba Island / — | Island and local maritime supply chains |
| Pemba | TZPMA | Pemba / — | Island cargo and coastal services |
Southern and Inland Waterway-Connected Cluster
Southern coastal ports serve regional cargo and resource-linked supply chains. Mwanza and Kigoma are inland waterway locations with lake-port functions rather than open-ocean container gateways.
Southern and inland waterway-connected ports in the indexed sample
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mtwara | TZMTW | Mtwara Region / — | Bulk, general cargo and southern regional freight |
| Mtwara | TZMYW | Mtwara / — | Port and terminal-level operational reference |
| Lindi | TZLDI | Lindi / — | Local coastal and regional cargo |
| Mikindani | TZMIK | Mikindani / — | Local coastal maritime activity |
| Mwanza | TZMWZ | Mwanza / — | Lake-port distribution and inland cargo |
| Kigoma | TZTKQ | Kigoma / — | Lake-port and inland regional logistics |
Tanzania, United Republic Of Port Codes
UN/LOCODE references help freight forwarders, carriers and customs stakeholders identify transport locations. A code should be checked against the shipment’s actual loading point, terminal record and carrier booking instructions.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
The same port name can appear in more than one operational record when a database distinguishes a city, port area or terminal. Tanga and Zanzibar illustrate why the precise code should be confirmed before documentation is issued.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code in the booking, bill of lading and customs documents with the UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and the Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier systems may apply additional terminal identifiers.
Shipping from Tanzania, United Republic Of: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and vary with vessel schedule, transshipment, equipment availability, congestion, customs procedures and final inland delivery requirements.
Tanzania, United Republic Of to Europe
Containerized exports and imports commonly move through Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar with connections to major European gateway networks.
Tanzania, United Republic Of to Asia
Asia–East Africa services support machinery, consumer goods, electronics, vehicles and industrial inputs moving through the principal coastal gateways.
Tanzania, United Republic Of to the Middle East
The western Indian Ocean position provides access to Gulf and Red Sea trade networks for food products, consumer cargo and industrial goods.
Tanzania, United Republic Of Regional Trade
Dar Es Salaam and other coastal locations connect maritime imports with inland distribution corridors, while lake ports support separate domestic and cross-border waterway flows.
Data Sources and Methodology
This page separates Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage from official national or port-authority operational statistics. Public figures are included only where a comparable and sufficiently reliable source is available.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 18 Tanzania, United Republic Of port and terminal records, database snapshot Nov 2026.
- Tanzania Ports Authority — official port operations, cargo, infrastructure and facility information, subject to publication and reporting scope.
- Tanzania Ministry of Transport — official transport-sector policy and statistical information where published for the relevant reporting year.
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime and geographic reference material used for location cross-checking where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seaports does Tanzania, United Republic Of have?
Tanzania, United Republic Of has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure describes database coverage and does not represent a single official classification of all maritime facilities.
What is the main port of Tanzania, United Republic Of?
Dar Es Salaam is generally the main commercial port and container gateway. Its indexed UN/LOCODE is TZDAR.
What are the main port regions in Tanzania, United Republic Of?
The principal clusters are the central coast around Dar Es Salaam, the northern coast around Tanga, the southern coast around Mtwara and Lindi, and the Zanzibar and Pemba island group. Mwanza and Kigoma serve lake-port and inland waterway roles.
How are Tanzania, United Republic Of port codes formatted?
UN/LOCODE references use the TZ country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the indexed sample include TZDAR for Dar Es Salaam, TZTAN for Tanga and TZMTW for Mtwara.
Are the port statistics current for 2026?
The page is prepared for 2026 and uses a Nov 2026 first-party database snapshot. Operational statistics are referenced against the most recent complete reporting year, 2025, where an official and comparable figure is available; schedules and port conditions remain subject to confirmation.
How can a shipper request a Tanzania, United Republic Of sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates. A usable request should include the origin and destination, cargo description, weight, dimensions, container type, incoterms and required shipment date.
Editorial note: Port names and UN/LOCODE records are based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot for Nov 2026. Official port and transport statistics are reviewed against public authority releases and the latest complete reporting year available, with page content reviewed quarterly. Port schedules, terminal conditions, capacity and transit times can change and should be confirmed before booking.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Tanzania, United Republic Of: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact