The number of ships docking at Tanzania’s ports has increased to 1,990 this year from 1,860 in 2023 as the country pushes ahead with reforms to boost trade efficiency, government data shows.
Authorities said the Kwala Industrial Park, a key logistics hub under development, will cut travel time from Dar es Salaam to Kwala from 45 days to 30–35 hours, while cargo clearance is expected to take 24 hours.
Transport from Kwala to Dodoma will take four to five hours, reducing reliance on trucks and lowering costs.
Cargo handled at Dar es Salaam port rose 17% to 27.76 million tonnes from 23.69 million tonnes last year, driven by a public-private partnership aimed at improving port operations.
Tanzania has also increased capacity to accommodate larger vessels, raising the limit from 45,000 to 65,000 tonnes.
The government said payment systems are shifting from Cost and Freight (CFR) to Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) to ease cargo transactions.
The measures, rolled out during President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, aim to position Tanzania as a regional trade hub and cut logistical bottlenecks.