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In 2019, Tanzania exported 17,900 tonnes of sisal at a price of USD 1,622.6 per ton, compared to 15,200 tonnes in 2015 at USD 1,748.8 per ton.

Due to the various problems facing the sisal industry, there has been lack of reinvestment, lack of product and market development and promotion, contributing to the decline of the industry. Being an activity undertaken mostly in third world countries, there has been dependence on foreign investment and assistance.

Sisal production began to decline after independence due to the drop in world prices as synthetic nylon substitutes became more popular. The nationalization of the estates during Ujamaa and the mismanagement of the estates further dropped the production in the country.

Sisal is used commonly in the shipping industry for mooring small craft, lashing, and handling cargo. Apart from rope, twine and general cordage sisal is used in buffing cloth, carpets, dartboards, mattresses, handicrafts and speciality paper.

Sisal is mainly grown as a plantation crop with the estates producing over 80% of the total production. The estates are located in Kilifi, Makueni, TaitaTaveta, Baringo and Nakuru Counties.

Conditions necessary for growing sisal a) It grows best in areas with 1 000 - 1 250 mm of rainfall every year. However, sisal can grow in areas that receive 730 mm of rain per year. b) Sisal grows under different climatic conditions. However, it grows best in areas where the average temperature is 20oC to over 30oC.

Today, Brazil is the major world producer of sisal.

Tanzania's leading sisal growing regions are Tanga, Morogoro, Kilimanjaro, Coast, Lindi and Mtwara. Farmers participating in the sisal value chain include those engaged in planting sisal for hedges, smallholders in estates and smallholders growing sisal as a cash crop in non-estate areas.