Dar es Salaam, July 13 -- IMPORTS surged nearly 18 per cent in the year through May, reflecting rising demand for industrial raw materials, fuel and capital equipment as the economy maintained strong growth momentum.

The latest Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Monthly Economic Review Report states the import bill rose to 20.4 billion US dollars (approximately 53.64tri/-) in the year ending May this year, up from 17.3 billion US dollars (about 45.56 tri/-) recorded in the corresponding period last year.

The report shows that imports of refined white petroleum products, which accounted for 13.0 per cent of the total goods import bill, increased by 9.9 per cent to 2.6 billion US dollars in the year ending May this year from 2.4 billion US dollars re...