KENYA
New Berths and Smart Gates: Mombasa Prepares for More Cargo
The Port of Mombasa is building for growth. After handling a record 45.45 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up 10% on the previous year, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is stepping up a series of projects to add capacity and speed up cargo flows.
The largest is Berth 19B, a Ksh19 billion project that is around 56% complete. The 240-metre berth, with a 15-metre draft, is expected to add 300,000 TEUs of annual container capacity. KPA Managing Director William Ruto said some completed sections may be handed over before the end of the year to help with the December cargo peak. “We are ready, our staff are ready, we have equipment,” he said.
Work is also under way on the first berth at Dongo Kundu, part of the Mombasa Special Economic Zone, due for completion in December 2028. A Ksh8.3 billion road project linking the port gates to the Northern Corridor is 58% complete and expected to finish by mid-2027.
Digital upgrades are part of the plan too. A new smart gate at Gate 24 is complete, the Terminal Operating System is being upgraded, and a Ksh1 billion vessel traffic management system was unveiled in July.
These projects matter well beyond Kenya. Transit cargo to Uganda, Rwanda, the DRC and other inland markets rose 19.5% in 2025 to 15.88 million tonnes.
As Mombasa adds capacity, make sure your documents keep pace. Our ECTN services for Kenya help ensure your shipments through Mombasa clear customs smoothly, keeping your cargo on track for the busy season.
Soyrces: kbc.co.ke | the-star.co.ke | standardmedia.co.ke
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CAMEROON
30% More Capacity: Kribi Container Terminal Expands Again
Cameroon’s deepwater port of Kribi is growing again. Kribi Container Terminal (KCT) has started a CFA21.5 billion expansion that adds 8 hectares and is set to raise capacity by 30%, with the aim of handling up to 1.2 million TEUs a year. Works began in September and are scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The project is being carried out by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which also helped build the port and is a KCT shareholder alongside Africa Global Logistics, CMA CGM and Cameroonian investors. Static storage capacity will rise from 24,000 to 34,000 TEUs.
The expansion builds on strong results. KCT handled nearly 750,000 TEUs in the 12 months after its second phase entered service in May 2025, an 82% increase on the previous comparable period.
Bigger ships are a major reason. The largest vessels calling at Kribi have grown from around 9,000 TEU to more than 24,000 TEU in a year, with MSC’s Africa Express service now calling there with 24,000 TEU ships. According to UNCTAD data reported by Ecofin Agency, this helped lift Cameroon’s shipping connectivity by 54%.
Kribi’s growth also eases pressure on Douala, which ran at 102% of its capacity last year, according to Drewry. With a planned 4,000-hectare industrial zone near the port, more cargo could follow.
With increased capacity and larger vessels calling at Kribi, now is the perfect time to ensure your documentation is ready. Our ECTN certificate services for Cameroon help your shipments to Kribi and Douala clear customs smoothly, so your cargo keeps moving.
Sources: businessincameroon.com | theloadstar.com | ecofinagency.com
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DJIBOUTI
Djibouti Keeps Cargo Moving Despite Rising Costs
Djibouti’s ports are adapting to a changing shipping map. At a press conference in Djibouti City on 8 October, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), said traffic has risen as carriers adjust to disruptions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Some shipping lines now unload cargo in Djibouti before sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe and the Atlantic. Larger vessels are also discharging containers there for transfer onto other ships, lifting transshipment volumes. “From a maritime traffic standpoint, we are doing well,” Hadi said.
The extra activity comes with higher costs. Fuel for cargo handling and container operations, equipment maintenance and handling expenses have all increased. “Everything has gone up,” Hadi said, adding that prices are rising for consumers. He described the increase in traffic as unexpected and said he hoped the disruption would not last long.
The port’s role matters well beyond its own borders. Ethiopia depends heavily on Djibouti’s ports for its imports and exports, so keeping cargo moving efficiently remains a priority for the whole corridor.
Hadi also looked ahead, presenting the Francophonie Economic Mission as an opportunity to attract new investment to the country. How long the current shipping patterns last will depend on conditions in the Red Sea, but for now, Djibouti remains a busy hub for the Horn of Africa.
With shipping routes shifting, reliable documentation helps you avoid surprises. Our ECTN certificate services for Djibouti help your cargo clear customs smoothly at the Port of Djibouti, whether it stays in the country or continues on to Ethiopia.
Sources: dawan.africa | captialethiopia.com
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