Tanzania Expands Mtwara Port to Target Zambia, Malawi and DRC Regional Trade
Tanzania is expanding Mtwara Port as it seeks to attract a larger share of regional cargo serving Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A new 300-metre berth is being constructed at Kisiwa Mpangawe, also known as Kisiwa Mgao, near Mtwara.
The facility will have a depth of 15 metres, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels carrying bulk commodities such as cement and coal.
Construction is currently 44% complete and is expected to be finished in 2027. The adjoining cargo area will have capacity for approximately 100,000 tonnes, while the specialised facility is designed to separate dusty bulk commodities from other cargo handled at the main port.
The expansion forms part of Tanzania’s efforts to transform Mtwara from a primarily domestic and seasonal port into a regional logistics gateway.
The port already handles fuel, cement, coal, cashew nuts, pigeon peas, vehicles and equipment for major construction projects.
Mtwara’s activity has increased significantly in recent years. Between February and August 2026, the port received 23 vessels and processed 6,390 vehicles, with some vehicles destined for landlocked markets in neighbouring countries.
Cargo throughput has also risen sharply, increasing from approximately 592,000 tonnes in the 2021/22 financial year to 2.58 million tonnes in 2024/25. This represents more than a fourfold increase in three years.
The latest berth follows earlier investments that expanded Mtwara’s infrastructure, including additional berthing capacity, cargo yards, warehouses and modern cargo-handling equipment.
For Tanzania, strengthening Mtwara provides an opportunity to diversify regional freight flows beyond the Port of Dar es Salaam while positioning the southern port to serve growing trade across East, Central and Southern Africa.
For neighbouring landlocked economies, greater capacity at Mtwara could provide an additional maritime gateway for imports and exports, provided road and rail connections to regional markets continue to improve.
The expansion therefore places Mtwara in a stronger position to support regional supply chains and compete for cargo linked to growing mining, industrial and consumer markets across the region.
