Dar es Salaam Port has emerged as a significant competitor to Mombasa Port in East Africa, doubling its cargo volumes over the past decade while Kenya’s port growth has remained stagnant.
The East African Business Council (EABC) webinar in May 2024, attended by key organizations such as the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA), Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), and Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), highlighted this trend.
CCTTFA reported exponential growth at Dar es Salaam port, leading to increased waiting times for ships. Cargo throughput at Dar es Salaam port surged from 13.6 million tonnes in 2016 to 24 million tonnes in 2023, according to CCTTFA representative Emmanuel Rutagengwa.
In contrast, Mombasa Port in Kenya experienced only marginal growth in cargo throughput, increasing from 33.88 million tonnes in 2022 to 35.98 million metric tonnes in 2023.
Tanzania’s remarkable growth, achieved without significant infrastructure expansion in over a decade, is expected to soon match Kenya’s cargo volumes. Rutagengwa noted the challenges posed by increased cargo volumes, including prolonged ship waiting times.
To address these challenges, Tanzania has reduced ship turn-around time from seven to 2.5 days and cargo dwell time from 22 to below seven days. Plans are also underway to revise truck turn-around time from 4.3 to 2.3 hours to enhance port efficiency.
In contrast, Kenya faces delays in cargo transit, falling short of official targets for transit times from Mombasa to Malaba and Busia. Delays are attributed to multiple police and security checks along the route, resulting in nearly double the transit time compared to official targets.
