Manufacturers warn smuggled oil cripples local industry

Dar es Salaam. Local cooking oil manufacturers have warned that the influx of smuggled oil into the Tanzanian market is undermining domestic production, shrinking market share for locally made brands and threatening thousands of jobs.

Industry players say illegally imported cooking oil, which often evades taxes, quality checks and regulatory inspections, is sold at lower prices and has distorted fair competition, making it increasingly difficult for compliant manufacturers to remain viable.