TASAC suspends new Inland Container Depot licenses

The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) has suspended the issuance of new licenses for Inland Container Depots (ICD) following public complaints regarding the establishment of these facilities in urban areas. Residents have reported increased truck traffic and street congestion caused by these depots.

TASAC Director General Mohamed Salum stated that the authority is conducting an assessment of existing ICDs to determine actual needs. This follows a significant surge in cargo volume at the Dar es Salaam Port, which handled approximately 1,085,000 containers in 2025, a more than 50 percent increase from 2020 levels. Some existing facilities have reportedly exceeded their capacity, with some centers receiving over 300 containers despite having a storage limit of 200.

While suspending new licenses, TASAC has called on the private sector to increase investment in ICD infrastructure, container storage, and truck parking areas to manage the growing cargo load. The authority emphasized that the increase in container volume represents an economic opportunity that requires expanded logistics capacity to reduce congestion at the port.