Increased Capacity Planned for Dar es Salaam Port

The Dar es Salaam Port, which receives 90% of Tanzania’s trade, is planning to increase its overall cargo capacity.

The port currently handles 13.5 million tonnes of cargo, by 2015 it is hoped that this figure will rise to 18 million.

The increase is part of the Big Results Now (BRN) initiative, which is also being employed by Rwanda and Nigeria, serves to aid Tanzania in its attempt to become a middle-income economy by 2025 by providing a system for development tin key areas such as energy and transport.

Tanzania Investment Guide 2026 Free Edition

The port was also visited by Finnish Prime Minister, Mr Jryki Katainen, during his recent trip to Tanzania aimed at boosting trade relations between Tanzania and Finland.

The improvements are not exclusive to Dar es Salaam Port as the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) with widespread improvements planned for ports in areas such as Tanga and Lake Victoria.

My Awadhi Massawe, Port Manager, noted that currently human resources and existing cargo depots are insufficient to meet the increasing trade demands experienced by Tanzania.

According to the World Bank, transport provides a strong opportunity for Tanzania to bolster GDP as improvements to logistics and efficiency at the Port of Dar es Salaam alone could see increase GDP by USD 1.8 billion.

Want to know more about Transport in Tanzania? Our free overview of the Tanzania Business and Investment Guide 2026 covers Transport, plus key sectors and investment opportunities. The complete 141-page edition includes policies, taxation, key regulations, full macroeconomic data, and sources, and is also available at no cost upon completion of a short form.

Download Free OverviewGet the Full Edition for Free
Related Posts
Samia Suluhu Hassan Ndiame Diop World Bank Dar es Salaam Port Second Phase
Read More

World Bank Considers Financing Second Phase of Dar es Salaam Port Upgrade

The World Bank is considering financing a second phase of the Dar es Salaam Port upgrade after the first phase, backed by a USD 345 million credit, reached 85% completion and helped raise annual throughput from 14 million tonnes in 2015/16 to 32.8 million tonnes in 2025/26. Regional Vice President Ndiamé Diop signalled the interest during a three-day visit that included talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan on 20 August 2026 covering the SGR, central corridor development, agriculture, education and the mobilisation of private investment.
Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan DRC Felix Tshisekedi
Read More

DRC to Build Dry Port in Dar es Salaam, Deepen Transport and Mining Ties with Tanzania

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has begun preparations to build a dry port in Dar es Salaam that will provide customs, cargo handling, mineral certification, and quality control services for Congolese goods moving through Tanzania, President Félix Tshisekedi announced during a state visit to Tanzania on 18 August 2026. The DRC is among the largest users of Tanzanian ports, with approximately 7.2 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2023, as the two countries agreed to accelerate transport, trade, and mining cooperation along the Central Corridor.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan foundation stone construction Tabora-Kigoma Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)
Read More

Tanzania Begins Construction of USD 2.74 Billion Tabora-Kigoma SGR Railway Section

President Samia Suluhu Hassan laid the foundation stone for the 506-kilometer Tabora-Kigoma Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) section on 20 July 2026, a USD 2.74 billion (TZS 7.4 trillion) investment linking Dar es Salaam Port to Lake Tanganyika. The section forms the second phase of Tanzania's SGR program, alongside the planned Uvinza-Musongati line, and is expected to position Kigoma as a regional trade hub connecting Tanzania to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.