DAR ES SALAAM — Improvements at Dar es Salaam Port are strengthening Tanzania’s position as a gateway to regional markets, with the port rising 105 places to rank 255th globally in 2025, from 360th in 2024, according to the World Bank and S&P Global Container Port Performance Index.
The improvement comes amid a multi-billion-dollar modernisation programme involving the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), the government and private operators. The programme includes new berths, a deeper shipping channel, improved cargo-handling facilities and greater private-sector participation.
The expansion is intended to increase the port’s capacity to serve Tanzanian businesses and landlocked countries that depend on the corridor for imported goods and exports.
The port’s total cargo volumes reached 27.7 million tonnes in the 2024/25 financial year, a 17 percent increase, while container vessel turnaround time reportedly declined from an average of 30 days to six days.
The modernisation programme includes plans to increase the number of berths from 12 to 22 and deepen the entrance channel from 10 metres to 15.5 metres, enabling larger vessels to access the port. Investment by private operators has also supported improvements in equipment and terminal systems.
For businesses, more reliable port services can make a difference well beyond the waterfront. Importers may be better able to plan stock levels, manufacturers can organise the arrival of production inputs, and exporters can improve delivery planning when vessel schedules and cargo handling become more predictable.
The opportunity also extends to local logistics companies, truck operators, clearing and forwarding agents, warehouses, freight services and businesses supplying port operations. Higher cargo activity can create demand for services across the wider supply chain.
Dar es Salaam Port serves Tanzania as well as regional markets, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Improved performance could help strengthen the competitiveness of trade corridors serving these economies.
Integration with rail services and the development of dry ports are also intended to improve the movement of cargo beyond the port itself. However, the benefits will depend on coordination across roads, railways, customs procedures, storage and inland distribution.
A better port ranking is an encouraging sign, but it is not a complete measure of trade costs or logistics performance. Sustaining progress will require continued investment, efficient cargo clearance and reliable connections between the port and businesses across the country.
For Tanzania, the wider prize is to turn improved port performance into a competitive advantage that attracts trade, supports local suppliers and creates opportunities for companies serving regional markets.
