Cargo volumes through the Port of Mombasa rose to a record 45.45 million metric tonnes in 2025, reinforcing Kenya’s position as East Africa’s main maritime gateway.
- •But the growth is now stretching port capacity, as congestion pressures collide with post-election trade realignments following Tanzania’s polls late last year.
- •Data from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) show cargo handled at Mombasa rose 10.9% year-on-year, while container throughput increased to 2.11 million TEUs from 2.00 million TEUs in 2024.
- • Transit cargo expanded even faster, rising 19.5% t to 15.88 million tonnes, driven by demand from Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, eastern DR Congo and parts of northern Tanzania.
The aftermath of Tanzania’s elections triggered temporary shifts in cargo routing and clearance behaviour, with some traders opting to clear backlogs or re-route consignments through Mombasa as Dar es Salaam normalised operations after the polls.
The surge has reignited congestion at the Port of Mombasa and inland container depots, with empty container pile-ups, full depots and slow evacuation emerging as binding constraints on efficiency.
Manufacturers say congestion is already disrupting production schedules, particularly for firms reliant on imported raw materials and time-sensitive exports.
According to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), limited empty container depot capacity, weak evacuation planning by shipping lines and coordination gaps among stakeholders are compounding delays at both the Port of Mombasa and the Nairobi Inland Container Depot.
“Currently, the business community is grappling with full empty container depots, leading to rejected returns, limited booking slots and restricted return windows,” said KAM chief executive Tobias Alando. “These challenges continue to disrupt normal port operations and slow down cargo movement.”
Industries affected include metals, food processing, textiles and automotive assembly, which depend on imported petroleum products, iron and steel, wheat, palm oil, plastics, chemicals and machinery sourced mainly from China, the UAE, India and Malaysia.
The urgency to decongest the port has intensified ahead of the avocado harvesting season, with the government prioritising perishable exports that depend on speed and reliability.
The pressure has drawn high-level government intervention, with port performance now framed as a competitiveness issue rather than a purely operational one.
Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said the government was intensifying efforts to improve efficiency at the Port of Mombasa as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Kenya’s position in regional and global trade.
Kinyanjui said congestion and cargo flow challenges required coordinated action, noting that more than 80% of Kenya’s imports and exports are transported by sea.
KPA says it is expanding capacity to meet rising demand, including the development of berths 19B, 23 and 24, which are expected to add 1.4 million TEUs of capacity. Upgrades to the Terminal Operating System and gate automation are also underway, alongside equipment modernisation.
Beyond Mombasa, the Port of Lamu handled 799,161 metric tonnes in 2025, up sharply from 74,380 tonnes the previous year, while Kisumu’s inland port processed 496,516 tonnes, a 55% increase, reflecting growing lake transport trade.
