Cargo throughput at Kenya’s main seaport of Mombasa rose nearly 11 percent in 2025, driven by strong growth in transit traffic to neighbouring countries and higher container volumes, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said.
The Port of Mombasa handled 45.45 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up 10.9 percent from the previous year, representing an additional 4.46 million tonnes, KPA data showed.
Transit cargo accounted for a significant share of the increase, rising 19.5 percent year on year to 15.88 million tonnes. The port serves as a critical logistics gateway for several landlocked countries in East and Central Africa, including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Containerised cargo volumes also expanded, with throughput rising 5.5 percent to 2.11 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared with about 2.0 million TEUs in 2024, reinforcing Mombasa’s position as one of Africa’s busiest container ports.
KPA said infrastructure expansion and digitalisation initiatives were key drivers of the improved performance.
“The growth reflects sustained investments in port infrastructure, modernisation of equipment and the adoption of digital systems aimed at improving efficiency and reducing turnaround time,” the authority said in a statement.
Among the major projects underway are the extension of berths and expansion of container storage yards, including berths 19B, 23 and 24. Once completed, the projects are expected to add capacity for an additional 1.4 million TEUs.
KPA is also upgrading its Terminal Operating System and automating port gates as part of a broader effort to improve cargo handling efficiency and ease congestion within the port and along key transport corridors.
More Read
In addition, the authority is investing in the acquisition and modernisation of port equipment to support rising cargo volumes and enhance operational performance, including ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling machinery.
Regional gateway
Mombasa plays a central role in Kenya’s logistics ecosystem and the wider East African region, handling the bulk of Kenya’s imports and exports as well as transit cargo destined for neighbouring countries.
Uganda remains the port’s largest transit market, with a substantial share of its fuel, machinery and consumer goods passing through Mombasa before being transported inland by road or rail.
The port’s growth in 2025 also reflects improvements along the Northern Corridor transport network, which links Mombasa to inland markets through a combination of road, rail and inland container depots.
Secondary ports also recorded gains, although from a lower base. According to KPA data, the ports of Lamu and Kisumu handled a combined 99,161 tonnes in 2025, up from 74,380 tonnes a year earlier. Kisumu Port, located on Lake Victoria, handled 799,161 metric tonnes, reflecting increased use of lake transport for regional trade.
Rising competition
Despite the strong performance, Mombasa faces growing competition from the Port of Dar es Salaam in neighbouring Tanzania, which has been expanding capacity and improving efficiency to attract transit cargo.
Dar es Salaam is strengthening its position as a key transit hub for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, markets traditionally served by Mombasa.
In 2025, Dar es Salaam handled total traffic of 27.7 million tonnes, up from 23.69 million tonnes the previous year, according to Tanzanian port authorities.
Analysts say competition between the two ports is likely to intensify as regional trade volumes grow and governments invest heavily in port infrastructure and logistics corridors.
Kenya has said continued investment in port capacity, technology and hinterland connectivity will be critical to maintaining Mombasa’s competitiveness as a regional gateway.
KPA said it expects cargo volumes to continue rising in the coming years, supported by economic growth in the region and ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
