MWE Correspondent
The Government of Tanzania has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 12 new berths at the Port of Dar es Salaam in a major infrastructure push aimed at easing mounting congestion as cargo volumes and vessel traffic continue to rise sharply.
Through the Tanzania Ports Authority (Tanzania Ports Authority), officials say the country’s busiest port is now operating under severe pressure, with existing infrastructure struggling to keep pace with growing regional and international trade demands.
TPA Director General Plasduce Mbossa told the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee during an inspection visit on May 23, 2026, that construction has already begun on two new 500-metre berths at Malindi Wharf, with plans underway for an additional 10 berths to significantly expand capacity.
He noted that the port currently operates 12 conventional cargo berths and two oil jetties, but increasing trade volumes have pushed operations beyond optimal efficiency levels.
“Operational areas should ideally be used at about 60 percent efficiency, but we are now at around 90 percent,” Mbossa said, warning that congestion is affecting cargo handling efficiency, storage space, and internal logistics movement within the port.
Despite the strain, officials say the surge in cargo reflects improved economic activity and ongoing reforms aimed at modernising Tanzania’s maritime trade infrastructure.
Between July 2025 and April 2026, the port handled 1,084,719 containers, representing a 25.4 percent increase compared to 865,329 containers recorded in the previous year. Transit cargo destined for neighbouring countries also rose by 25.3 percent, while revenue climbed from Sh716.2 billion to Sh907.9 billion.
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Authorities say the growth highlights the strategic importance of the port as a key gateway for trade across East and Central Africa, serving landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
To further ease pressure, the Tanzania Ports Authority is upgrading the Kurasini (Ex-EPZA) logistics area to expand storage capacity and has invested in modern cargo-handling equipment aimed at improving turnaround times.
Minister for Transport Professor Makame Mbarawa said the government is also strengthening the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connection to the port to reduce congestion caused by heavy truck traffic on city roads.
He said the SGR is expected to begin transporting at least 1,000 containers daily to inland logistics hubs such as Kwala starting June 1, a move expected to significantly ease bottlenecks at the port.
Lawmakers welcomed the reforms but urged the government to accelerate investment to match rising demand, warning that delays could affect Tanzania’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub.
With cargo volumes continuing to grow and regional trade expanding, the planned berth expansion is seen as a critical step in transforming Dar es Salaam into a more efficient and competitive gateway port for East Africa.
