MOSHI: Tanzania, Thursday 8 October 2026. Stanbic Bank Tanzania today committed to finance every stakeholder in 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.
Coffee earned Tanzania USD 391.7 million in the year to June 2026, up from USD 164.3 million in 2022, according to the Bank of Tanzania Monthly Economic Review for July 2026. The August review puts the figure at USD 396.0 million for the year to July 2026.
The bank reaffirms its commitment at the Kahawa Festival in Moshi, which ran from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 October 2026. Stanbic is taking part under the theme Growing Coffee. Creating Value. Connecting Tanzania to International Markets.
“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.” Benifrida Tarimo, Head of Agribusiness, Stanbic Bank Tanzania
Stanbic offers financial solutions tailored to each part of the value chain. They cover farm expansion and mechanisation, processing facilities, warehouses, working capital, trade finance and export transactions. A grower can plant more and improve quality. A cooperative can pay farmers promptly at harvest and store the crop properly. An exporter can accept a larger order and cover the weeks between shipment and payment. The aim is to help coffee businesses raise productivity, improve quality and compete in global markets.
The bank also wants more of the value of Tanzanian coffee to stay in Tanzania. Much of the crop leaves the country as green beans and is blended abroad, according to the Tanzania Coffee Board’s development strategy, so roasting, packaging and branding largely happen elsewhere.
“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.” Benifrida Tarimo
New markets are adding to the opportunity. China’s zero tariff market access for agricultural commodities allows Tanzanian coffee to enter one of the fastest growing coffee markets free of duty. China’s coffee imports rose from 59,100 tonnes in 2015 to 213,300 tonnes in 2024, according to customs figures published by the Shanghai Municipal Government. Since 20 July 2026, China’s General Administration of Customs has accepted eligible agricultural produce from all 53 African countries with which China has diplomatic relations.
Stanbic connects Tanzanian exporters with buyers, roasters and distributors in China and other strategic global markets through Standard Bank Group. Since August, its clients have also been able to settle trade with Chinese partners directly in Chinese yuan.
“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.” Prof. Aurelia Kamuzora, Chairperson, Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB)
Government aims to raise coffee production to 300,000 tonnes a year by 2030, from about 81,000 tonnes in the 2024/25 season. Stanbic’s financing supports that ambition, together with Agenda 10/30, Tanzania Vision 2030 and the Coffee Industry Development Strategy, by helping to turn coffee into a stronger driver of economic growth and to position 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.” Benifrida Tarimo
