STANBIC BANK TO FINANCE TANZANIA’S COFFEE VALUE CHAIN AS EXPORT EARNINGS MORE THAN DOUBLE

Stanbic Bank Tanzania’s Head of Agribusiness, Benifrida Tarimo (right), receives a certificate of participation from Moshi District Commissioner, Godfrey Mnzava (second left), in recognition of the Bank’s participation in the Kahawa Festival 2026, held in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region. Looking on is Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) Chairperson, Prof. Aurelia Kamuzora (left).

MOSHI, Tanzania - October 8, 2026: Stanbic Bank Tanzania has committed to financing stakeholders across Tanzania’s coffee value chain, from farmers, aggregators and processors to exporters and international buyers, as the country’s coffee export earnings more than double.

According to the Bank of Tanzania’s Monthly Economic Review for July 2026, Tanzania earned USD 391.7 million from coffee exports in the year ending June 2026, up from USD 164.3 million in 2022. The August 2026 review put earnings at USD 396 million for the year ending July 2026.

Stanbic reaffirmed its commitment during the Kahawa Festival, held in Moshi from October 8 to 10, 2026, under the theme “Growing Coffee. Creating Value. Connecting Tanzania to International Markets.”

Speaking about the initiative, Stanbic Bank Tanzania Head of Agribusiness, Benifrida Tarimo, said Tanzanian coffee has significant potential to compete in international markets, with the bank ready to support stakeholders seeking to expand their businesses.

“Tanzania’s coffee is ready for the world. Our role is to be the growth partner behind it, connecting producers, aggregators, processors and commodity traders with the finance they need to invest in production, add value and compete for export markets,” said Tarimo.

Stanbic offers tailored financial solutions to meet the needs of different players across the coffee value chain. These include financing for farm expansion and mechanisation, processing facilities, warehouses, working capital, trade finance and export transactions.

The solutions are designed to help farmers expand production and improve quality, enable cooperatives to pay farmers promptly and store their produce properly, and allow exporters to fulfil larger orders while managing costs between shipment and payment.

The bank is also seeking to ensure that more of the value generated by Tanzanian coffee remains in the country through increased investment in processing, packaging and the development of locally owned coffee brands.

According to the Tanzania Coffee Board’s development strategy, much of Tanzania’s coffee is exported as green beans and subsequently blended abroad. As a result, value-adding activities, including roasting, packaging and branding, largely take place outside the country.

“There is more value in every bean than Tanzania earns today. When local enterprises process, package and brand more of our coffee, they create jobs, raise export revenues and build Tanzanian coffee brands that can compete anywhere in the world,” Tarimo said.

China and other international markets offer new opportunities

Emerging international market opportunities are creating further prospects for Tanzania’s coffee industry. China’s zero-tariff market access for eligible agricultural commodities provides an opportunity for Tanzanian coffee to enter the country’s rapidly growing coffee market without import duties.

According to customs figures published by the Shanghai Municipal Government, China’s coffee imports increased from 59,100 tonnes in 2015 to 213,300 tonnes in 2024.

Furthermore, since July 20, 2026, China’s General Administration of Customs has accepted eligible agricultural products from all 53 African countries with which China maintains diplomatic relations.

Through the Standard Bank Group network, Stanbic connects Tanzanian coffee exporters with buyers, roasters and distributors in China and other strategic international markets. Since August 2026, the bank’s clients have also been able to settle trade transactions with Chinese partners directly in Chinese yuan.

Chairperson of the Tanzania Coffee Board, Prof. Aurelia Kamuzora, said government investments in seedlings, agricultural extension services and improved marketing systems were beginning to deliver results, emphasising the need to increase value addition within Tanzania.

“Government has invested in seedlings, extension services and better marketing systems, and farmers are seeing the results. The task now is to add more value to the crop here at home. We welcome financial institutions that are ready to invest alongside farmers, cooperatives and processors,” said Prof. Kamuzora.

Financing Tanzania’s coffee production ambitions

The government aims to increase Tanzania’s annual coffee production to 300,000 tonnes by 2030, from approximately 81,000 tonnes recorded during the 2024/25 season.

Stanbic’s financing commitment is intended to support this ambition alongside Agenda 10/30, Tanzania Vision 2030 and the Coffee Industry Development Strategy. The initiative seeks to strengthen coffee’s contribution to economic growth while positioning Tanzanian coffee as a globally competitive product.

“Stanbic has served this country for more than three decades, and coffee has been part of its story for far longer. Tanzania is our home, and we drive her growth,” Tarimo said.

About Stanbic Bank Tanzania

Stanbic Bank Tanzania is a leading financial services provider offering a wide range of banking solutions to individuals, businesses and institutions. Through sustainable investment and strategic partnerships, the bank contributes to Tanzania’s economic development and regional integration.

Stanbic Bank Tanzania is a member of Standard Bank Group, one of Africa’s largest banking groups by assets, with a presence in 21 African countries. Through this network, the bank connects Tanzania to opportunities across Africa and global financial markets.

Website: www.stanbicbank.co.tz

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