Port of Dar es Salaam transit traffic grows 17%

Transit cargo traffic through the Port of Dar es Salaam increased by 17% during the 2025/26 financial year, reaching 14.61 million tonnes compared to 12.52 million tonnes the previous year.

This growth is primarily driven by a 30% surge in shipments destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which now account for 53% of the port's total transit traffic. The increase strengthens the role of the Central Corridor as a viable alternative to the Northern Corridor, which connects the Kenyan port of Mombasa to inland countries.

Recent investments in port efficiency, including modernized quays and new cargo handling equipment, have helped reduce vessel turnaround times and increase capacity. Tanzania is also enhancing road and rail links to landlocked nations such as the DRC, Zambia, Burundi, and Uganda. However, the rising volumes are placing new pressures on Dar es Salaam's infrastructure, leading to increased road congestion and container depot density.