Mtwara Port begins handling oil transit for neighbouring countries

MTWARA: MTWARA Port has entered a new phase of growth as it begins receiving and handling oil cargo in transit to Malawi and Zambia, marking a major milestone in its expanding regional trade operations.

The development, according to Port Manager Ferdinand Nyathi, signals Mtwara Port’s growing importance as a strategic trade gateway for Southern Africa.

“It is clear that Mtwara Port is now experiencing rapid growth, as it has started receiving and handling oil cargo on transit,” said Mr Nyathi.

He was speaking on Monday during celebrations to mark Customer Service Week, where he revealed that the port began receiving oil tankers for transit in September and October this year.

Mr Nyathi expressed gratitude to customers and stakeholders for their continued partnership, which he said has been instrumental in driving the port’s revenue, cargo volumes and overall development.

“For the past four years, Mtwara Port handled an average of 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually. Last financial year (2024/25), the volume rose sharply to 2.5 million tonnes, which is a clear sign of progress,” he said.

Customers at the event praised the port’s enhanced efficiency, especially its swift and reliable cargo handling.

“Personally, I’m very happy with the development of the port, which has led to efficient and dependable logistics,” said a shipping agent with Joyous Shipping Services Ltd in Mtwara, Esthesia Malya.

At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General Plasduce Mbossa announced that Mtwara Port is set for significant growth as it gears up to handle a range of minerals—including iron ore from Liganga and Mchuchuma, graphite from Ruangwa and uranium from Namtumbo—as well as natural gas from Mtwara and Lindi.

These resources will serve both domestic needs and export markets such as Zanzibar, Tanga, Mozambique and Comoros.

Currently, the port also handles cashew nuts, coal, cement and other commodities bound for local and international markets.

With its strategic coastal position and expanding infrastructure, Mtwara Port is rapidly emerging as a key driver of regional trade and economic integration in Southern Tanzania.