Zanzibar government blames Middle East conflict for rising import costs

Unguja. Zanzibar has attributed rising prices of essential goods to increased shipping costs from China and India, which it says have been driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Acting Minister for Trade and Industrial Development Shariff Ali Shariff (pictured) told the House on Monday, September 14, 2026, that shipping costs for a 20-foot container had risen from $3,600 to $4,600.

He was responding to a question from Tumbe Representative Mmanga Mohammed Hamed, who sought an explanation for the rising cost of living and the Government’s plans to ease the burden on consumers.

Mr Shariff said the increase in shipping costs followed security concerns linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which had prompted several shipping companies to suspend or alter their services.