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Writer's pictureGerminal G. Van

Fuel prices surged 17% in Tanzania due to U.S. dollar shortage and excessive government borrowing


The U.S. dollar is currently scarce in Tanzania. And this scarcity has led to a 17% increase in the price of petroleum, forcing drivers to dig even into their wallets. Indeed, Tanzania imports most of its fuel in U.S. dollars, and the shortage of this currency has made it more expensive to import fuel.

The price of oil has been rising in recent months, due to a number of factors, including the war in Ukraine. This has also contributed to the increase in fuel prices in Tanzania. The war in Ukraine has disrupted the global oil supply, and has led to an increase in demand for oil from other countries. This has pushed up the price of oil, and has made it more expensive to import fuel into Tanzania.

Retail gasoline price will now be transacted at TSh 3,199 per liter, up from TSh 2,736 per liter last month, for fuel imported through the port of Dar es Salaam. Diesel prices have also gone up, from TSh 2,544 to TSh 2,935 per liter, with only kerosene prices offering some relief by slightly falling from TSh 2,829 to TSh 2,668 per liter.

The Tanzanian shilling has been weakening against the US dollar in recent months. This means that it takes more Tanzanian shillings to buy one US dollar. This has made it more expensive for Tanzania to import fuel, and has led to an increase in fuel prices. The weakening of the shilling is due to a number of factors, including the decline in tourism and the slowdown in foreign investment.

The weakening of the Tanzanian shilling is an important factor in propping up the price of fuel because of an increase in government borrowing. As a matter of fact, The Tanzanian government has been borrowing heavily in recent years to finance its budget deficit. This has increased the supply of Tanzanian shillings in the economy, which has put downward pressure on the value of the shilling.

The Tanzanian government has been borrowing heavily in recent years to finance its budget deficit. The budget deficit is the difference between the government's spending and its revenue. When the government spends more than it earns, it needs to borrow money to cover the shortfall. But borrowing more money to cover the shortfall leads to further debt because the money borrowed to cover the shortfall must be paid back eventually, which reduces the revenue that it generates. The government has to pay interest on its debt, and these interest payments are a drain on the government's budget.

The ongoing budget deficit in Tanzania is harming its economic growth and increasing its risk of default. If the government is unable to repay its debt, it could default on its loans. This would have a negative impact on the country's credit rating and could make it more difficult for the government to borrow money in the future.

The fuel price spike in Tanzania is likely to have a significant impact on the economy. It will make it more expensive for businesses to operate and will lead to higher inflation. It will also make it more difficult for people to afford to travel and transport goods. The Tanzanian government must reduce its borrowing capacity and public spending in order to strengthen its domestic currency and make Tanzania more competitive.

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