NAIROBI, Kenya- As Kenya’s trade continues to boom, the Mombasa Port is set for a major upgrade.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has announced plans to expand the old terminal and further extend the second container terminal to meet growing demands.
With cargo volumes steadily increasing, these developments are expected to significantly boost the port’s capacity and efficiency, cementing its role as a vital gateway for East and Central Africa.
The most immediate change? An expansion of the Old Terminal by an additional 290 meters, increasing its length from 790 meters to a total of 1,080 meters.
This comes as the port anticipates handling up to 47 million metric tonnes of cargo by 2030, a sharp rise from the 35.9 million tonnes recorded in 2023, according to the Economic Survey 2024.
The continued rise in cargo volumes—coupled with the growth in international trade—has prompted the KPA to upgrade its facilities to accommodate larger vessels and higher traffic.
KPA Managing Director William Ruto attributes the port’s success to modernization efforts and a dedicated workforce.
Ruto projects container throughput to increase by another 200,000 containers this year, bringing the total to 1.8 million, with further growth expected as the expansion continues.
To keep pace with these rising figures, the port’s second container terminal is also undergoing expansion, with the third phase of construction underway.
Once Phase III is complete, the port’s capacity will surpass 2.5 million containers annually. This is part of the broader Mombasa Port Development Programme, which aims to attract larger vessels, providing Mombasa with a competitive edge over ports in Dar es Salaam and Djibouti.
The ongoing modernization also means improved operational efficiency. Last year, the port saw the number of ships handled rise by 17.6pc, from 1,561 in 2022 to 1,835 ships in 2023.
Additionally, the average container ship turnaround time dropped to 2.3 days, compared to 2.9 days the previous year. The improvements have also extended to ship handling speeds, with gross moves per ship per hour jumping from 32.5 to 38.8 moves.
In an effort to further bolster operations, KPA is courting larger shipping lines. This week, KPA hosted a delegation from Evergreen, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, and Gulf Badr Group, specialists in marine services.
The expansion of Mombasa Port marks a pivotal moment for East Africa’s trade ambitions. As cargo volumes continue to rise, KPA’s modernization efforts are positioning Mombasa as the go-to port for the region, increasing efficiency and capacity to meet future demands.
