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DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 22 (Xinhua): Exports of gold have generated around 93 per cent of Tanzania's foreign currency earnings from the mineral sector last year, according to the latest statistics of the central bank.
The Bank of Tanzania figures showed that last year's exports of gold had fetched the country 641.7 million US dollars while exports of gemstones of tanzanite, rubies, sapphires and emeralds got the country 31.4 million dollars. Exports of diamonds netted Tanzania 19.7 million dollars.
"During 2005, non-traditional exports went up by 13.3 per cent to 1,176.3 million dollars," said the bank's monthly economic review for January.
"Gold led the list by accounting for over 50 per cent of the total non-traditional exports due to improved prices in the world market and increase in production," the review added.
All told, exports of minerals accounted for 58.89 per cent of last year's Tanzanian foreign currency earnings. The remainder came from exports of manufactured goods, fish and fish products, horticultural products, vegetables, oil seeds, cereals, cocoa, raw hides and skins, and woods.
Exports of gold earned Tanzania 629.4 million dollars in foreign exchange in 2004.
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