The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Last year witnessed a notable rebound in cargo throughput at the Mombasa port, with a growth of 6.23 percent, a trend attributed to the government’s renewed efforts to enhance efficiency amid increasing competition from Dar es Salaam.
According to data compiled by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), East Africa’s largest seaport managed approximately 35.84 million tonnes of goods, a notable increase from the 33.74 million tonnes handled the previous year.
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This growth signifies a turnaround from a marginal 2.93 percent decline recorded in 2022, the first dip in five years. During this period, certain regional traders diverted their cargo to the central corridor due to concerns over disruptions associated with Kenya’s presidential elections.
The Northern Corridor, spanning approximately 1,700km from Mombasa through several East African countries, has historically been the preferred route. However, businesses have lamented challenges such as multiple tolls, border charges, heavy traffic, and road conditions, prompting consideration of the Central Corridor, which starts at the Dar es Salaam port.
Imported cargo witnessed a substantial rebound, growing by 6.63 percent to 28.34 million tonnes, whereas exports experienced a more modest growth of 3.71 percent, totaling nearly 4.95 million tonnes.
This resurgence follows a high-level meeting chaired by President William Ruto in July last year, aimed at implementing comprehensive reforms to enhance efficiency and competitiveness at the Mombasa port.
Among the resolutions adopted was the adoption of global best practices in transshipment operations to attract more transshipment business, a significant revenue driver globally. As part of the reform agenda, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) announced plans for dredging to expand the port’s depth and width, enhancing its capacity to accommodate larger vessels efficiently.
This initiative mirrors similar dredging efforts at the Dar es Salaam port, underscoring the escalating competition between the two ports in the region. The proposed dredging at Dar es Salaam aims to deepen the ship entrance to 15-16 meters below chart datum, potentially impacting Mombasa’s competitiveness.
In response, KPA is planning to expand Mombasa’s approach channel to accommodate very large container ships effectively, ensuring the port remains globally competitive amidst evolving regional dynamics.
