The Port of Mombasa recorded an increase in cargo in 2024 with 41.1 million tons of cargo passing through the leading East African Port.
According to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) the cargo throughput was an increase from 35.98 million tons in 2023.
KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto on Thursday said that most cargo that passed through the port in 2024 headed to Uganda.
“Uganda remains our top transit destination, accounting for 65.7 percent of our transit cargo with 8,811,289 tons handled in 2024 up from 7,115,079 tons processed in 2023 representing growth of 1,696,210, or 23.8 percent increase compared to 2023,” said Captain Ruto.
The second largest consignments (12.7%) were sent to South Sudan, while Democratic Republic of Congo accounted for 11.8%, Rwanda 5.1% and Tanzania 3.4%.
KPA also noted growth in transshipment traffic, which recorded 491,666 TEUs in 2024, a 132.9 percent increase against 2023.
“This growth can be attributed to vessel diversions stemming from the Red Sea crisis and an increase in vessel calls to Mombasa driven by our efficient turnaround times,” Captain Ruto added.
The port of Mombasa recorded the highest cargo throughput in December 2024, when 3,746,363 tons were shipped.
Additionally, KPA says the port recorded an increase in container traffic, transshipment traffic and transit traffic.
“The performance was enhanced by significant growth in containerized and bulk cargo volumes, with transshipment traffic receiving a boost from some major shipping lines choosing mombasa port as their transshipment hub thus enabling smaller feeder vessels to serve eastern, southern Africa ports as well as the Indian Ocean Islands from the port of Mombasa,” Captain Ruto added.
In 2023, the Port of Mombasa faced an uncertainty as a result of a diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Uganda. This led to a 200,000 metric ton decrease in Ugandan cargo passing through the port.
