Sesame Export Tanzania: TMX Auctions, COPRA Licences, Fees and Markets
How does a company buy and export sesame from Tanzania? On the Mainland, sesame (ufuta) is sold by cooperatives from licensed warehouses through Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) auctions. The buyer registers with COPRA and TMX, pays the auction price plus warehouse charges and council cess, then exports under a Class A licence, a COPRA export permit and a TPHPA phytosanitary certificate. Sesame carries no export tax.
Four regulators share the crop. COPRA licenses dealers under the Food Security Act, the Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board (WRRB) licenses warehouses, the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) supervises the cooperatives that sell, and TPHPA certifies plant health at export.
What the law says about sesame exports
A sesame export Tanzania deal has no crop board, unlike cashew or coffee in our crop boards guide. Five instruments apply on the Mainland.
- Dealer licensing: the Food Security Act, Cap. 249 R.E. 2023. Section 3 establishes COPRA, section 14 requires traders and warehouse operators to register, and section 19 bars commercial buying, warehousing or exporting of "cereals or other produce" without a COPRA licence.
- Licensing detail: the Food Security (Registration, Permits and Licensing) Regulations, 2026, GN No. 258P, published 30 June 2026, with permits and fees.
- Warehousing and auctions: the Warehouse Receipts Act, Cap. 339, and the Warehouse Receipts Regulations, 2016, GN 109 of 2016. Trading on the exchange sits under the Commodity Exchanges Act, 2015 (Act No. 19 of 2015), now Cap. 445.
- Cooperatives: the Cooperative Societies Act, Cap. 211. Section 6 establishes the Tanzania Cooperatives Development Commission.
- Plant health: the Plant Health Act, 2020. Section 30 requires a TPHPA phytosanitary certificate and inspection.
The Business Licensing Act, Cap. 101 R.E. 2023, the Export Tax Act, Cap. 196, and the Foreign Exchange Act, Cap. 271, complete the picture.
Who should read this
- Exporters and processors buying sesame at TMX auctions in Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Songwe, Dodoma, Singida, Manyara or Katavi.
- Foreign buyers and trading houses setting up a Tanzanian company to source for China, Japan, India or the Middle East.
- Banks, cooperative unions and AMCOS dealing with sesame buyers.
COPRA's sesame profile, dated December 2024, records Mainland production of 266,694 tonnes in 2022/23. Lindi produced 20.9% of the crop, Songwe 18.3%, Dodoma 17.1%, Ruvuma 10.3% and Mtwara 8.1%.
Who regulates sesame in Tanzania?
Each body controls one stage. The table sets out who does what.
| Body | Role for sesame buyers and exporters | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| COPRA | Registers traders and warehouse owners; issues purchase permits and single-consignment export permits; registers graders | Food Security Act Cap. 249 ss.4, 14, 19, 24; GN 258P of 2026 |
| WRRB | Licenses warehouse operators, prints warehouse receipts and keeps the receipt database used for auction catalogues | Warehouse Receipts Act Cap. 339; GN 109 of 2016 |
| TMX | Runs the electronic auctions, registers buyers and collects payments; licensed by CMSA | Commodity Exchanges Act Cap. 445 |
| TCDC | Registers and supervises cooperative unions and AMCOS that sell on farmers' behalf | Cooperative Societies Act Cap. 211 s.6 |
| District councils | Collect produce cess from the buyer and issue the electronic levy receipt | Local Government Finance Act Cap. 290 |
| TPHPA | Inspects and issues the phytosanitary certificate for each consignment | Plant Health Act 2020 s.30; GN 929 of 2024 |
| BRELA and TRA | Company, Class A export licence, TIN, VAT, customs export entry | Cap. 212, Cap. 101, Cap. 148 |
| Bank of Tanzania | Rules on receiving export proceeds through a Tanzanian bank | Foreign Exchange Regulations, GN 294 of 2022 |
Is sesame within COPRA's mandate? The Act covers "other produce" that the Minister gazettes. A March 2024 Gazette notice defines COPRA's "mazao mchanganyiko" (mixed crops), but we could not read its text. Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe told Parliament in May 2025 that COPRA supervises oilseeds such as sesame, as Mwananchi reported on 9 June 2025. GN 92 of 2026 also designates sesame oil as a food commodity. See our COPRA registration guide.
How does the warehouse receipt and TMX system work?
Sesame in the main producing regions is sold only through the warehouse receipt system and digital auctions. COPRA, TMX, TCDC and WRRB issue a joint trading guideline; the fifth edition, dated 1 June 2026, covers sesame and six pulses. It is listed on COPRA's guidelines page. Obtain the signed text from COPRA, as the posted copy is a scan.
The chain runs in five steps.
- Farmers deliver sesame through their AMCOS to a warehouse licensed by WRRB.
- The operator grades, weighs and records each lot and issues a warehouse receipt (GN 109 of 2016, regs. 30 and 51).
- TMX publishes a catalogue of lots with weight, moisture and purity. The Songwe catalogue applied an all-or-none rule per lot.
- Registered buyers bid online, and the winner pays through TMX, which passes the money to the cooperative union.
- The buyer collects the sesame ex-warehouse on a release order.
WRRB reported 199.6 million kg of sesame sold through the system in 2025/26, out of nine crops worth TZS 2.679 trillion, according to the Daily News on 1 August 2026. TMX, launched in 2018 under CMSA, had traded over 200,000 tonnes of sesame, as The Guardian reported in August 2025.
The 2026/27 season opened on 8 May 2026 in Songwe. More than TZS 3 billion of sesame sold within hours, The Citizen reported. In Tunduru, the first TAMCU auction averaged TZS 2,477 per kg, with a range of TZS 2,410 to 2,520, according to The Respondents on 22 May 2026. See our warehouse receipt system guide.
What does a buyer need before bidding?
COPRA registration and purchase permit
Under regulation 5 of GN 258P, a trader registers with COPRA if it holds a valid business licence and trades at least 30 tonnes a year or turns over at least TZS 50 million. Under regulation 10, it then applies for a season purchase permit with a three-month bank statement and its areas of purchase.
TMX buyer registration and guarantee
COPRA's January 2025 statement said buyers register electronically, lodge a payment guarantee and pay within two days of the claim document, according to Jiko Point on 9 January 2025. The 2026 Songwe catalogue terms gave 72 working hours from the signed sales invoice, with a 5% penalty on late balances, as summarised by LICO Global on 8 May 2026. Read each catalogue's terms.
Auction purchases settle in shillings within days, so arrange the guarantee, a TZS account and finance before the season opens. A defaulting buyer risks forfeiting its deposit.
Can a foreign-owned company buy sesame at auction?
Yes, with limits. GN 487A of 2025 reserves on-farm crop purchasing for citizens (register NEW-08-14). A company with more than 50% foreign shareholding counts as foreign-owned (NEW-08-13).
Buying a warehouse lot at a TMX auction is not on-farm purchasing. GN 258P also sets a non-citizen trader registration fee, which assumes non-citizens may register. A foreign-owned company with a Class A licence and COPRA registration can therefore bid. Our foreign investor setup service handles the company stage. Confirm the purchase permit position with COPRA.
Which licences and registrations does an exporter need?
The exporter, usually a BRELA-registered company, needs a Class A licence on TNBP. Exportation of agricultural goods costs TZS 100,000, or TZS 80,000 per branch (register F0865). Exportation of raw material costs TZS 300,000 or TZS 200,000 (F0866). Sesame is an agricultural good, so F0865 should apply; confirm the row on TNBP. The licence runs 12 months and should be renewed within 21 days after expiry (NEW-08-01). See our business licensing service.
The company also needs a TRA TIN and, above the TZS 200 million threshold, VAT registration. Exports are zero-rated, and TRA's VAT page says zero rating applies "upon proof" of export. Input VAT on cleaning and haulage is then recoverable. Our TIN and VAT registration service covers this step.
COPRA fees under the Second Schedule of GN 258P are read from the gazetted text, as the Zatra fee register does not yet carry them.
| COPRA item | Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Trader registration, citizen | TZS 10,000 | Registration |
| Trader registration, non-citizen | TZS 150,000 | Registration |
| Dealer's permit to purchase cereals, pulses, oil seeds and nuts | TZS 150,000 per year | Harvest season (reg. 10(2)) |
| Warehouse owner registration; warehouse operation licence | TZS 10,000 each | Licence one year (reg. 13(4)) |
| Export permit | No fee in the Second Schedule | One consignment (reg. 8(2)) |
Fees under the regulations are non-refundable (reg. 20(2)). Registrations and permits cannot be transferred (reg. 14).
Is there an export tax or levy on sesame?
No export tax applies. Register line F0343 records no export tax outside the Export Tax Act Schedule and the cashew levy, with exports zero-rated for VAT. The Schedule taxes sunflower seed, not sesame, and the Finance Act, 2026 added only waste paper, cakes and brans, and quartz sand from 1 July 2026. Our export levies guide lists every taxed product.
Two charges do apply. First, the council produce cess. The Local Government Finance Act, Cap. 290, caps it at 3% of the farm-gate price and bars cess on sellers (F0547). Second, the COPRA export permit application must carry "an electronic receipt for payment of crop levy" issued by the council (GN 258P, reg. 8(1)(d)).
Above these sit warehouse and cooperative charges set by the season guideline, not by a tax law. The opening Songwe catalogue of 8 May 2026 listed buyer charges of TZS 252 per kg plus 3% cess, according to LICO Global. Cooperative administration (TZS 100) and transport (TZS 50) were the largest items. The WRRB receipts fee for buyers is TZS 0.50 per kg (GN 109 of 2016, Fourth Schedule) and may sit inside these lines. Ask TMX for the charge sheet of each catalogue.
How does the phytosanitary certificate work for sesame?
Every commercial consignment needs a TPHPA phytosanitary certificate. The exporter applies with the invoice, customs assessment and any import permit, and the certificate issues once the lot meets the destination's rules (GN 284 of 2023, regs. 81 to 86).
Fees come from GN 929 of 2024 on TPHPA's plant health services fees page. Sesame falls in the oil crops band, which costs more per kg than the horticulture band used for avocados.
- Certificate, commercial consignment: TZS 130,000 (F0376).
- Inspection, oil crops, 1,000 kg to under 1,000,000 kg: TZS 25,000 plus TZS 13 for each kg above 1,000 kg (Part B 1(b)(v)).
- Inspection, oil crops, above 1,000,000 kg: TZS 25,000 plus TZS 12 for each excess kg (Part B 1(b)(viii)).
- Treatment supervision: a minimum of TZS 380,000 per consignment where fumigation is supervised.
Sesame is a stored product, so fumigation before stuffing is common in buyer contracts. Our phytosanitary certificates guide covers the regime across crops.
What quality and grade rules apply?
The Food Security Act requires produce at a buying centre to be graded. Traders must use a COPRA-registered grader, and trading ungraded produce carries a minimum fine of TZS 5 million (s.24).
The Tanzania Bureau of Standards publishes TZS 741:2010, Simsim (sesame) seeds: Specification, listed on the EAC non-tariff barriers portal. COPRA requires clean, dry sesame in new bags. See our TBS certification guide.
In the 2026 Songwe catalogue, moisture ran mostly between 4.7% and 7.6% and purity between 97% and 99%. White lots command the best prices; mixed lots trade at a discount. Importers test for residues and aflatoxin, so write lab tests into the contract.
Market access by destination
China dominates. World Bank WITS data for HS 120740 show Tanzania exported 128,483 tonnes of sesame worth USD 225.6 million in 2023., about USD 1.76 per kg. For 2024, WRRB put exports at 150,000 tonnes worth TZS 300 billion, as The Citizen reported on 14 June 2025.
| Destination | 2023 value and share | What the exporter must do |
|---|---|---|
| China | USD 187.6 million, about 83% | TPHPA certificate meeting China's quarantine requirements; GACC registration where the product category requires it; Chinese importer files the customs declaration |
| Japan | USD 28.0 million, about 12% | TPHPA certificate; residue and aflatoxin results meeting Japanese limits, usually tested by the buyer |
| India | USD 4.1 million | TPHPA certificate; Indian importer handles its plant quarantine import permit |
| Israel, Greece, Turkey, Algeria, Netherlands | USD 0.4 to 1.6 million each | TPHPA certificate; EU buyers apply EU residue and contaminant limits |
| South Korea | Not among the top eight in 2023 | Confirm Korean plant quarantine and food import rules with the buyer |
China changed its rules for overseas food producers on 1 June 2026. GACC Decree No. 280 replaced Decree No. 248, as Singapore's food agency explained in a trade circular of 28 July 2026. The categories that need a competent authority recommendation include "nuts and seeds" and "edible fats and oils". Ask TPHPA whether your cleaning plant or warehouse must be recommended to GACC before you ship.
How are export proceeds received?
The Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022, GN 294 of 2022 set four duties for every exporter.
- Receive export proceeds in foreign currency through a bank in Tanzania (reg. 7(1) and (2)).
- Give the bank the export documents within seven days after customs export procedures are complete (reg. 7(3)).
- Agree a payment period of no more than 90 days and receive the money within it (reg. 7(4)).
- If receipt is delayed beyond 90 days, give reasons and the expected date on Form A (reg. 7(5)).
Regulation 8 prohibits underpricing, and regulation 11 bars offsetting claims between affiliates. GN 206 of 2026, published on 17 July 2026, amended the regulations and set five days for the exporter's explanations, according to Clyde & Co on 17 August 2026. Our note on Bank of Tanzania foreign exchange rules covers the bank side.
Fees and charges with register IDs
Government charges are paid to each authority at the official rate against a GePG control number. They are separate from any adviser's fee.
| Charge | Amount | Paid to | Register ID or instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A licence, exportation of agriculture goods | TZS 100,000 or 80,000 a year | BRELA (TNBP) | F0865 |
| Class A licence, exportation of raw material (if applied) | TZS 300,000 or 200,000 a year | BRELA (TNBP) | F0866 |
| COPRA trader registration | TZS 10,000 citizen; TZS 150,000 non-citizen | COPRA | GN 258P of 2026, Second Schedule |
| COPRA purchase permit | TZS 150,000 a year | COPRA | GN 258P of 2026, Second Schedule |
| Phytosanitary certificate, commercial | TZS 130,000 per consignment | TPHPA | F0376; GN 929 of 2024 |
| Export inspection, oil crops | TZS 25,000 plus TZS 13 per kg above 1,000 kg | TPHPA | F0376; GN 929 Part B 1(b)(v) |
| Produce cess | Up to 3% of farm-gate price | District council | F0547, NEW-05-27 |
| Green Port Initiatives charge | USD 100 per container over 20 ft | TPA | NEW-03-21 |
| Export tax; VAT on export | Nil; 0% on proof of export | TRA | F0343 |
Ask each council for its by-law cess rate and an electronic receipt, which the COPRA export permit requires.
Worked example: one 25-tonne sesame container
Assume a Mainland exporter buys 25,000 kg of white sesame at a Tunduru auction and ships one 40ft container from Dar es Salaam to China. This worked example uses the Tunduru average of TZS 2,477 per kg and the Songwe charge sheet of TZS 252 per kg. We use the Bank of Tanzania mean rate of TZS 2,631 per dollar for 9 October 2026. The FOB price of USD 1,350 per tonne is an assumption only.
- Auction price: 25,000 kg x TZS 2,477 = TZS 61,925,000.
- Catalogue charges: 25,000 kg x TZS 252 = TZS 6,300,000.
- Produce cess at 3%: 3% of TZS 61,925,000 = TZS 1,857,750 (F0547).
- Phytosanitary certificate: TZS 130,000 (F0376).
- Inspection, oil crops: TZS 25,000 + (24,000 kg x TZS 13) = TZS 337,000 (F0376).
- Green Port Initiatives charge: USD 100 x 2,631 = TZS 263,100 (NEW-03-21).
- Export tax and VAT: nil (F0343).
Government charges on the container total TZS 2,587,850. At an FOB value of USD 33,750, or TZS 88,796,250, that is about 2.9% of FOB. The cess is the largest item.
The sesame costs TZS 70,082,750 at the warehouse gate, about TZS 2,803 per kg or USD 26,637. The remaining USD 7,100 to FOB must cover cleaning, fumigation, haulage from Ruvuma, port handling and finance. The annual licence (F0865) and COPRA permit sit outside this figure.
Document checklist for each shipment
| Document | Issued by | When |
|---|---|---|
| Class A export business licence and TIN | BRELA, TRA | Held for the year |
| COPRA registration certificate and purchase permit | COPRA | Before the first auction |
| TMX sales invoice and proof of payment | TMX | After each auction |
| Warehouse release order | Warehouse operator | On collection |
| Electronic crop levy receipt | District council | Before the export permit |
| COPRA export permit, one consignment | COPRA | Before customs entry |
| Commercial invoice, sales contract and packing list | Exporter | Each shipment |
| Phytosanitary certificate and fumigation certificate | TPHPA, licensed fumigator | Before loading |
| Customs export declaration | TRA through the clearing agent | Before loading |
| Bill of lading | Shipping line | On loading |
| Certificate of origin and lab reports, where the buyer asks | TCCIA, laboratory | Before shipment |
Our guide to export permits and documentation covers customs procedure for all goods.
How does Zanzibar fit in?
This guide covers Mainland Tanzania. COPRA describes its mandate as Mainland, and the Plant Health Act applies to the Mainland only (s.2). Zanzibar has its own agriculture and plant protection authorities, and the TMX auction system runs in Mainland regions.
| Item | Mainland | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | BRELA | BPRA |
| Dealer licensing | COPRA under Cap. 249 | Zanzibar agriculture authorities (confirm the instrument) |
| Plant health certificate | TPHPA | Zanzibar plant protection service (confirm) |
| VAT | TRA, 18%; exports zero-rated | ZRA, 15% |
| Customs | TRA | TRA (Union matter) |
| Foreign exchange | Bank of Tanzania | Bank of Tanzania (Union matter) |
Mainland sesame shipped through a Zanzibar port still needs its Mainland permits and TPHPA certificate. See our notes on registering in Zanzibar with BPRA and Zanzibar VAT.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Penalties are substantial for companies.
| Event | Consequence | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Buying or exporting commercially without a COPRA licence | Fine of TZS 2 million to 5 million or 1 to 2 years' imprisonment | Cap. 249 s.22 |
| Trading in ungraded produce | Fine of not less than TZS 5 million, 6 months to 2 years, or both | Cap. 249 s.24 |
| Other offence by a body corporate | Fine of not less than TZS 10 million | Cap. 249 s.37(2) |
| COPRA licence cancelled or suspended | Appeal to the Minister within 60 days | Cap. 249 s.21(2); GN 258P reg. 17 |
| Exporting other than as the Plant Health Act provides | Body corporate: fine of TZS 10 million to 500 million | Plant Health Act s.59(1) |
| TPHPA decision | Appeal to the Minister within 30 days | Plant Health Act s.63 |
A seized consignment, a prosecution or a licence cancellation should go to an advocate at once. So should weight, quality or rejection disputes, and the sales contract's arbitration clause before signing.
What to do now
- Set up the company. Register with BRELA, obtain a TIN and plan VAT registration so input VAT can be recovered on export sales.
- Obtain the export licence. File the Class A licence on TNBP, confirm whether F0865 or F0866 applies, and pay only on the GePG control number.
- Register with COPRA. Apply for trader registration and the season purchase permit, with the bank statement and areas of purchase.
- Register with TMX. Open the buyer account, lodge the guarantee and line up finance that settles within the catalogue window.
- Check the destination. For China, ask TPHPA about GACC registration under Decree 280; for every market, agree lab tests in the contract.
- Book the export file. Pay council cess electronically, apply for the COPRA export permit and the TPHPA certificate, and arrange fumigation.
- Keep proof and escalate early. File the export entry and bill of lading for VAT and the bank, and brief an advocate on any seizure or dispute.
Key dates and deadlines
| Date or period | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2024 | GN 929 of 2024 replaces the plant health fee schedule | TPHPA |
| 8 May 2026 | 2026/27 sesame season opens in Songwe on TMX | The Citizen |
| 1 June 2026 | Fifth edition of the sesame and pulses trading guideline; GACC Decree 280 in force | COPRA; SFA |
| 30 June 2026 | GN 258P of 2026 on COPRA registration, permits and fees published | COPRA |
| Within the catalogue window | Pay for auction lots, reported as 72 working hours in Songwe | Catalogue terms |
| 7 days after export | Export documents to the bank | GN 294 reg. 7(3) |
| 90 days | Maximum agreed period to receive export proceeds | GN 294 reg. 7(4) |
| 12 months; 21 days | Business licence validity; renewal window after expiry | NEW-08-01 |
How Zatra helps
Zatra's import and export compliance service prepares the Class A licence, COPRA registration and purchase permit, TMX buyer onboarding papers, council and TPHPA filings and the shipment document set. A Senior Advisory Session costs USD 49. Standard Business Setup at USD 999 covers the company, licence and tax registrations. Compliance Renewal at USD 900 to 1,200 a year keeps licences and permits current.
Government fees are paid by the client to each authority at the official rate against its control number, separately from Zatra's professional fee. Zatra prepares and coordinates the file; it does not decide or guarantee any authority's outcome. Seizures, prosecutions, licence appeals, cooperative and buyer disputes and formal legal opinions go to Zatra's advocate. For the wider context, read our avocado export guide and the government fees handbook.
Sources and status
Accurate as at 10 October 2026. Settled: the Acts, GN 258P, GN 929, GN 294 and the fee register. Verify: sesame's gazetted status, catalogue charges, the Class A row and GACC registration. Unknown: the full 2026 guideline text and Zanzibar procedure.
- Food Security Act, Cap. 249 R.E. 2023: COPRA, 2026 posting. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- GN 258P of 2026: COPRA, 30 Jun 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- COPRA trading guidelines: COPRA, 29 Jun 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Warehouse Receipts Regulations, GN 109 of 2016: TanzLII. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Plant health fees, GN 929 of 2024: TPHPA, 22 Nov 2024. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Finance Act, 2026: TRA, 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Foreign Exchange Regulations, GN 294 of 2022: Bank of Tanzania, 13 May 2022. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- HS 120740 exports by partner: World Bank WITS, 2023 data. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- GACC Decree No. 280 circular: Singapore Food Agency, 28 Jul 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Farmers earn 2.7tri/- through WRS: Daily News, 1 Aug 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- Sh300 billion from sesame exports in 2024: The Citizen, 14 Jun 2025. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
- 2026 sesame season opens: LICO Global, 8 May 2026. Accessed 10 Oct 2026.
Figures to confirm before you act
- Sesame's gazetted status: confirm that the March 2024 mixed crops notice names sesame
- GN number and COPRA fees: the text prints GN No. 258P (file name 158P); the fees are not yet in the Zatra register
- Class A row: F0865 or F0866, as applied on TNBP
- Catalogue charges and payment window: TZS 252 per kg and 72 working hours are the reported Songwe terms; other catalogues differ
- Oil crop inspection band: confirm the TZS 13 per kg band on the TPHPA invoice
- Produce cess: capped at 3% (F0547); the rate depends on each council's by-law
- GACC registration: whether sesame plants need a TPHPA recommendation under Decree 280
- Prices, rate and Zanzibar: the auction and FOB prices are illustrative; confirm Zanzibar rules locally
This article is general information based on official sources available at the date of publication. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and notices change. Verify with the issuing authority or consult Zatra before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Can an exporter buy sesame directly from farmers outside the auction?
Not in regions where the season guideline requires warehouse receipt sales. Buying outside the system can breach the guideline and the licensing rules of the Food Security Act. Confirm the covered regions with COPRA first.
Does each container need its own COPRA export permit?
Yes. Regulation 8(2) of GN 258P limits an export permit to a single consignment. It needs the electronic crop levy receipt. Plan one permit and one certificate per bill of lading.
Who pays the produce cess on auctioned sesame?
The buyer. The Local Government Finance Act bars councils from charging cess on sellers, and the 2026 Songwe catalogue added 3% cess to the bid price.
Can a buyer inspect sesame before bidding?
The catalogue gives moisture, purity and colour for each lot, drawn from warehouse grading. Ask TMX whether the catalogue allows a pre-auction warehouse visit or sample by your surveyor. Once a lot is collected, quality risk passes to the buyer, so check samples first.
What happens if a buyer fails to pay after winning a lot?
Catalogue terms reported for 2026 apply a penalty on the unpaid balance. Persistent default leads to forfeiture of the security deposit and re-auction of the lot. A buyer facing a dispute over a default notice should brief an advocate before the deadline passes.
Can sesame be exported as hulled or roasted seed instead of raw?
Yes, but processing adds licences. A processor registers with COPRA and with the district authority, and food safety rules from TBS apply. Hulled seed still needs a TPHPA certificate where the importing country asks for one.
Can a warehouse receipt be used to borrow money?
Yes. The receipt is issued in triplicate, including a certificate of pledge, under the Warehouse Receipts Regulations. Banks lend against it, and the goods are released only on surrender of the receipt or a financier's release order.
Sources & regulators
Verify before filing: Rates, forms and thresholds move by Finance Act, Government Notice and portal revision. Confirm the live schedule on the mandate-holder portal before you budget or submit. Law-firm alerts and Big Four notes are discovery only.
- Food Security Act, Cap. 249 R.E. 2023: COPRA, R.E. 2023 text posted 20 Jul 2026; ss.3, 4, 14, 19, 21, 22, 24, 37 read 10 Oct 2026; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Food Security (Registration, Permits and Licensing) Regulations, 2026, GN 258P: COPRA, Gazette published 30 Jun 2026; regs. 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20 and Second Schedule; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Food Security (Designation of Food Commodities) Notice, 2026, GN 92: COPRA, Gazette published 3 Apr 2026; sesame oil at item 7; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- COPRA guidelines page (2026 sesame and pulses trading guideline, fifth edition): COPRA, guideline dated 1 Jun 2026, posted 29 Jun 2026; scanned copy; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- COPRA: Sesame Profile for Tanzania: Ministry of Agriculture and COPRA, Dec 2024, posted 4 Sep 2026; production and regional shares. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Warehouse Receipts Regulations, 2016, GN 109 of 2016: TanzLII, 2016; regs. 30, 51, 52, 55 and Fourth Schedule read 10 Oct 2026; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Commodity Exchanges Act, 2015 (Act No. 19 of 2015): TanzLII, assented 4 Aug 2015; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Cooperative Societies Act, Cap. 211: TanzLII, latest version incorporating Act 1 of 2025; s.6; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Plant Health Act, 2020 (Act No. 4 of 2020): TanzLII, 2020 text; ss.2, 30, 59, 63; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- TPHPA: Pesticide and plant health services fees (GN 929 of 2024): Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, GN 929 published 22 Nov 2024, Part B 1(b); primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Finance Act, 2026: Tanzania Revenue Authority, 2026; Part V ss.11 to 12 amending the Export Tax Act Schedule; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- TRA: What is VAT?: Tanzania Revenue Authority web page, read 10 Oct 2026; zero rating of exports upon proof. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022, GN 294 of 2022: Bank of Tanzania, published 13 May 2022; regs. 7, 8, 10, 11; primary source. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Bank of Tanzania: Exchange rates: Bank of Tanzania, USD mean TZS 2,631.36 for 9 Oct 2026. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- World Bank WITS: Tanzania exports of HS 120740 by partner, 2023: World Bank WITS from UN Comtrade, 2023 data; independent trade data. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Singapore Food Agency: China's revised registration requirements, GACC Decree No. 280: Singapore Food Agency trade circular, 28 Jul 2026. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- TZS 741:2010 Simsim (sesame) seeds: Specification: EAC non-tariff barriers portal listing, TBS standard published 25 Jan 2011. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Daily News: Farmers earn 2.7tri/- through Warehouse Receipt System: press report, published 1 Aug 2026, WRRB figures for 2025/26. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- The Citizen: Tanzania earns Sh300 billion from sesame exports in 2024: press report, published 14 Jun 2025, citing WRRB. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- The Citizen: Strong start for Songwe sesame farmers as sales hit Sh3 billion: press report, published 9 May 2026. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- The Respondents: Tunduru sesame farmers earn TZS 2.46 billion in first auction: press report, published 22 May 2026. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- The Guardian: Tanzania trades over 200,000 tonnes of sesame via online exchange platform: press report, published 8 Aug 2025. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- LICO Global: Tanzania's 2026 sesame season opens: trader briefing, published 8 May 2026, summarising TMX catalogue TMX/SNG/SORECU/2026/SS-001. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Jiko Point: Choroko, dengu, mbaazi, soya, ufuta sasa kuuzwa kidijitali: press report, published 9 Jan 2025, on COPRA statement of 6 Jan 2025. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Mwananchi: Mafanikio ya Wizara ya Kilimo kupitia COPRA: Mwananchi special edition, 9 Jun 2025, hosted by COPRA. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Clyde & Co: Key amendments to the Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022: law firm briefing, published 17 Aug 2026, on GN 206 of 2026. Accessed 2026-10-10.
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