Port expansion – both already happening and planned – is pitting operators against each other as they vie for hub status.
Hub ports are needed to support the increasing integration of the region with global supply chains.
The main protagonists are Tanzania and Kenya.
Tanzania’s plans have been boosted by the European Union (EU) investing EUR 15 million in the Tanzania Trade and Transport Improvement Project, which is set to launch in 2025.
“This project unlocks the port’s full potential as a vital hub for regional and global trade, driving economic growth,” according to a European Union statement.
Much progress has already been made in improving the port.
Vessel waiting times have been reduced by 85%, dropping from an average of 46 days in May 2024 to seven days by September 2024, according to the ports authority.
This has led to shipping lines dropping a $1 000 peak season charge due to delays, says Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) director general Plasduce Mbossa.
In 2024, container throughput reached 27 000 TEUs a month — well ahead of the previous peak of 15 000 TEUs.
- Read the full article in our new Freight Features edition on “East Africa”, out this Friday, 28 February.
