Dar es Salaam Port Cargo Volumes Surge as Tanzania Strengthens Regional Trade Hub

Momentum builds across RoRo, containers and bulk

Roll-on/roll-off traffic is expanding fastest. The number of vehicle units handled at Dar es Salaam rose 88 percent to 30,442 in May 2026, up from 16,177 a year earlier and more than double the 14,645 units recorded in May 2024. RoRo vessel calls also increased, reaching 20 in May 2026, compared with 13 in May 2025 and nine in May 2024, signalling stronger vehicle imports and more frequent services on key routes.

Container volumes show a similar step-change. DP World‘s terminal processed 44,001 TEUs in May 2026, a 57 percent rise from 27,953 TEUs in May 2025 and more than triple the 13,779 TEUs recorded in May 2024. Container ship calls at the terminal climbed to 20 in May 2026, from 13 in 2025 and seven in 2024, pointing to growing network connectivity and schedule density.

Dry bulk cargo is also gaining ground. Volumes rose 27 percent to 267,560 tonnes in May 2026, up from 210,488 tonnes a year earlier, and were more than three times higher than in May 2024. Bulk vessel calls increased to eight in May 2026, from six in 2025 and three in 2024, as the port handled larger parcels of commodities. General cargo was the only segment to ease, slipping 2 percent to 204,978 tonnes from 210,079 tonnes in May 2025, though still well above the 113,699 tonnes handled in May 2024.

Across the wider container platform, performance is diverging by terminal but remains robust. At East Africa Gateway Terminal, traffic edged up 1 percent to 85,243 TEUs in May 2026, from 84,127 TEUs a year earlier, consolidating earlier growth rather than chasing double-digit expansion. For investors, the combined throughput across DP World and EAGTL highlights a deepening base of volumes that can support long-term capital deployment in equipment, warehousing and value-added services.

Private capital and inland links reshape the gateway

The Tanzania Ports Authority and private operators are now pivoting from volume recovery to capacity and efficiency. TPA Director General Plasduce Mbossa links the latest data to broader trade growth and stresses the need to improve cargo movement beyond the quay. Planned additions of three new berths and ongoing yard expansions are designed to anchor higher throughput while keeping vessel turnaround times competitive against rival hubs in Mombasa, Beira and Maputo.

Private operators are central to this repositioning. DP World’s performance at its Dar es Salaam terminal suggests operational gains in crane productivity, berth planning and yard management. East Africa Gateway Terminal is holding volumes at a high base, which indicates a stabilising service platform for shipping lines and cargo owners. According to the Tanzania Shipping Agents Association, the entry of such private players has lifted efficiency and boosted confidence among shippers, reinforcing Dar es Salaam’s status as a preferred regional gateway.

Meanwhile, the hinterland is slowly catching up with the quayside. The Tanzania Railways Corporation is increasing its capacity to move cargo to the Kwala Inland Dry Port, easing pressure on the seaport and on private inland container depots. This rail-led evacuation is key for landlocked neighbours that depend on the corridor, and it signals rising demand for rolling stock, intermodal facilities and last-mile distribution.

Digital and regulatory reforms are adding further leverage. The Tanzania Electronic Single Window System connects key agencies on one platform and has simplified clearance procedures, supporting faster cargo release and shorter dwell times. Industry representatives point to harbour dredging and new cargo-handling equipment as factors behind the acceleration in volumes over the past decade, with recent upgrades and private participation marking a clear inflection point.

For investors, the trajectory at Dar es Salaam port points to growing demand across transport, logistics real estate, dry ports and trade finance, as well as scope for partnerships around rail and road corridors that can lock in the port’s emerging role as a primary node in East and Southern African supply chains.

The post Dar es Salaam Port Cargo Volumes Surge as Tanzania Strengthens Regional Trade Hub appeared first on FurtherAfrica.