DRC Cargo at Dar es Salaam Port Falls to Two-Day Processing as Trade Expands
The Port of Dar es Salaam has reduced the processing time for cargo destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo to about two days, down from around 10 days, strengthening the corridor’s role in the movement of goods between the DRC and international markets.
The improvement was highlighted during a September 19 visit to the port by DRC Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya, who assessed the handling, tracking and security of Congolese cargo passing through Tanzania.
DRC-bound cargo reached 7.77 million tonnes during the 2025–26 financial year, accounting for about 53% of the 14.61 million tonnes of transit freight handled by Dar es Salaam during the period. Congolese cargo increased by about 30% from 5.99 million tonnes in the previous period.
The shorter processing time is expected to reduce storage costs, cargo delays and other logistics expenses for companies using the Dar es Salaam corridor.
Faster turnaround could also improve the predictability of supply chains serving the DRC’s mining and industrial sectors.
Paluku called for closer coordination between the port and Congolese government agencies operating in Tanzania, including the General Directorate of Customs and Excise, the Multimodal Freight Management Office and the Centre for Evaluation, Expertise and Certification.
The agencies are expected to strengthen information sharing, cargo tracking, mineral certification and security procedures to improve the movement of Congolese imports and exports.
The development follows broader efforts by Kinshasa and Dodoma to strengthen trade relations. The two countries are also working towards a bilateral trade agreement intended to reduce commercial barriers and improve the movement of goods between their markets.
Dar es Salaam has become an important gateway for the DRC, particularly for businesses in the country’s eastern and southeastern regions.
The corridor connects Congolese markets to the Indian Ocean through Tanzania’s ports, roads, railways and Lake Tanganyika transport network.
The improvement in port processing forms part of wider efforts to reduce the cost and time of moving goods through the Central Corridor.
With DRC cargo accounting for more than half of Dar es Salaam’s transit freight, greater efficiency at the port could have a significant impact on regional trade and mineral supply chains.
