THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has revealed plans to build two new berths at the port of Dar es Salaam next year , increasing its total number to 12.

The expansion is expected to stimulate the country’s economic growth and enhance its position as a key regional trade hub.

Plasduce Mbossa, the TPA director general, announced yesterday that Dar es Salaam port handles 95 per cent of all cargo entering Tanzania. 

He said the addition of two piers is expected to serve both domestic and international customers, including neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Malawi.

“The expansion will not only enhance domestic capacity but also attract increased business from surrounding countries,” Mbossa said.

The port of Dar es Salaam has already become a focal point for several countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, with foreign delegations visiting to observe its improvements and potential for collaboration.

Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, significant progress has been made, including partnerships with investors such as DP World, which manages piers 4 to 7, and Adan International Ports Holding, which manages piers 8 to 11. These investments have helped transform the port into a modern and efficient facility.

To further strengthen regional partnerships, TPA has opened offices in Malawi and Zambia, allowing direct engagement with customers and making it easier for them to use the port for their logistics needs. 

Mbossa highlighted that these initiatives, alongside the construction of new piers, will reduce customer wait times and increase business flow.

“Previously, unloading a ship at Dar es Salaam took up to 30 days, but now it only takes 4 to 5 days,” he said, adding: that the port now handles 100,000 containers per month, up from 70,000 containers previously. The new piers will further increase the port's unloading capacity.

In addition to infrastructural improvements, TPA is working to enhance its digital payment systems, allowing customers to complete transactions from anywhere. 

Mbossa stated that TPA currently contributes 7.3 per cent to the national income and aims to increase this figure to 15 per cent.

Recently, the European Union (EU) visited the Port of Tanga and commended the Tanzanian government for its substantial investments in port infrastructure, designed to improve efficiency and facilitate trade.

TPA has also hosted foreign delegations, including Dutch Ambassador Wiebe De Boer, who praised Tanzania’s efforts to create a favourable business environment. 

Additionally, Volkswagen’s car manufacturing company from Germany visited the port, expressing interest in using it for transporting cars and spare parts to East and Central Africa. Following their inspection in September, they confirmed that the port met international standards and pledged to use it for their logistics needs.

The port's continued improvements have also caught the attention of traders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with delegations from Kalemie, Uvira, Bukavu and Goma visiting to see first hand the advancements made at the port of Dar es Salaam.