Tanzania holds talks with dry port operators in efforts to reduce congestion at Dar Port  

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has begun discussions with dry port operators and various public institutions on ways to expand and improve the capacity of inland container depots following increased activity at the Port of Dar es Salaam.

The move is aimed at reducing cargo congestion at the port, improving efficiency in cargo transportation and storage services, and strengthening trade and the national economy in general.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on May 8 during the opening of a stakeholders’ meeting on the establishment and operation of dry ports, Director General of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Mohamed Salum, said dry port owners should start considering acquiring larger areas to facilitate the handling of increased cargo volumes from the Port of Dar es Salaam.

He said the port is currently handling an average of 110,000 tonnes of cargo per month compared to its initial capacity of 28,000 tonnes, a situation that underscores the importance of having larger storage facilities for containers.

He added that 50 percent of containers arriving at the port are transported to neighbouring countries, while the remaining half stays within the country, increasing the demand for dry ports with larger cargo storage capacity.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Assistant Director for Maritime Transport Services, Mussa Shashula, said cargo volumes at the port had increased from 18 million tonnes in 2021/22 to 32 million tonnes in 2024/25, with projections showing the volume could reach 34 million tonnes in 2025/26.

He said the increase has prompted the government to continue implementing strategies to improve dry port infrastructure in line with the rapid growth of trade and cargo transportation in the country.