Exporting Cloves from Zanzibar

Cloves are Zanzibar's most significant agricultural export and are handled under a distinct, government-controlled marketing structure. The Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC) remains, as of late-2025 reporting, the sole legal buyer and exporter of Zanzibar-grown cloves — a ZSTC representative is on record stating "we buy all the cloves directly from farmers and sell them internationally." Zanzibar's government has publicly rejected calls to liberalize the trade, citing concern that an open market could let traders collude to depress farmer prices; officials describe wanting a "proper programme" before any change, without committing to one.

ZSTC is the sole authorized buyer and exporter of Zanzibar cloves — an independent private exporter cannot currently buy and export Zanzibar clove production directly. ZSTC also purchases mainland-grown cloves (from Tanga and Morogoro) for its own export pipeline. Separately, any Zanzibar-based export business must register with the Zanzibar Ministry of Trade and Industry for a renewable export/import registration certificate under the Zanzibar Trading Act No. 14 of 2013.

No official ZSTC-published grading document was located in current research; general international/EU clove-market grading concepts (handpicked, moisture and foreign-matter limits) are documented by international trade sources but not confirmed as ZSTC's own formal scheme.

No Zanzibar-specific documentation of a clove pest/disease certification requirement was located in current research.

An ordinary or preferential TNCC Certificate of Origin may apply depending on the buyer and destination market.

Customs clearance execution runs through the same national TRA↗ (opens the official site in a new tab)/TANCIS system as the Mainland. Export documentation for cargo moving through Zanzibar's ports (operated by the Zanzibar Ports Corporation, separate from Mainland Tanzania Ports Authority) must also carry a Zanzibar Maritime Authority stamp.

Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading — arranged by ZSTC as the exporter of record.

Zanzibar clove export earnings fell sharply in the year to November 2025 — value down 76% to roughly $6.3 million (from $26.3 million) and volume down from 3,900 to 1,200 tonnes, attributed by reporting to new international clove producers expanding global supply and to climate disruption of Zanzibar's traditional two-season production cycle. Figures are as reported in a single dated article; treat other, conflicting figures found elsewhere with caution until reconciled against a primary ZSTC source.