Port of Dar es Salaam Records Record Cargo Throughput as $421 Million Infrastructure Upgrade Boosts Regional Trade
The Port of Dar es Salaam is strengthening its position as one of East Africa’s leading maritime gateways following major infrastructure investments that have significantly improved efficiency and regional connectivity.
During the 2024/25 financial year, the port handled a record 27.7 million tonnes of cargo, a 15% increase from the previous year, driven by upgraded facilities, faster cargo handling and improved vessel turnaround times.
The transformation has been led by the US$421 million Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, financed primarily by the African Development Bank.
The project deepened the harbour channel to 14.5 metres, allowing larger vessels to call at the port, while new gantry cranes increased container handling rates from 18 to 30 containers per hour.
As a result, average vessel turnaround time has fallen from 10 days to around three days.
Operational performance has also improved through private sector participation, with DP World managing Berths 0–7 and Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL) operating Berths 8–11 under performance-based agreements.
To support growing cargo volumes, Tanzania has expanded inland logistics through the Kwala Inland Container Depot, which can handle more than 300,000 containers annually, helping reduce congestion and speed up cargo clearance.
The port remains a vital trade gateway for Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with further improvements expected through the planned rehabilitation of the TAZARA railway, scheduled to begin in June 2026.
To align with the upgraded infrastructure, the Tanzania Ports Authority introduced revised port tariffs in January 2026 following consultations with industry stakeholders.
“Much of the recent growth is directly linked to infrastructure improvements, from deeper berths to faster handling equipment,” said a spokesperson for Wilmaar Logistics Ltd.
With continued investment in port, rail and logistics infrastructure, the Port of Dar es Salaam is enhancing its competitiveness and reinforcing its role as a key trade gateway for East and Central Africa.
