(Mombasa) – Northern Corridor stakeholders are urging the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to enhance its cargo clearing systems to prevent delays at entry points along the corridor. The appeal follows disruptions caused by failures in the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS), which recently led to missed shipping schedules for consignments, including tea exports.
The chairman of Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor, who is also the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa CEO, Agayo Ogambi, highlighted the need for more robust systems. He called for a fallback mechanism to maintain efficiency during system downtimes, noting that delays hinder trade across Kenya and East Africa. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Capt. William Ruto echoed the concerns, emphasizing the urgency of addressing technical issues like scanner malfunctions and system reliability.
Despite these challenges, Mombasa Port continues to record significant growth in performance. Between January and October 2024, the port handled 33.8 million tonnes of cargo, a 13.9% increase compared to the 29.7 million tonnes during the same period in 2023. This growth is driven by expanding sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, along with global trends favoring larger vessels for their economies of scale.
KPA attributes its success to infrastructure improvements and strategic upgrades, including the deepening of the harbor in 2013 and the opening of a second container terminal (CT2) in 2016. Future plans include the construction of Berth 23 and a specialized berth at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, aimed at maintaining the port’s competitiveness. The addition of Berth 19B is expected to increase capacity by 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2030.
The latest data highlights the port’s exceptional performance.
Mombasa Port Performance Indicators
| Cargo Type | 2023 (Tonnes) | 2024 (Tonnes) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Containerized Cargo | 14,796,116 | 17,917,000 | 21.1% |
| Liquid Bulk | 7,735,813 | 8,433,461 | 9.0% |
| Total Transit Cargo | 9,303,171 | 11,180,185 | 20.2% |
Container Traffic
| Measure | 2023 | 2024 | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEUs (Twenty-Foot Units) | 1,322,999 | 1,643,240 | 24.2% |
The transit cargo sector saw remarkable growth, led by Uganda, which recorded a 26.5% increase, equivalent to 1.5 million tonnes. Uganda’s robust demand accounted for much of the transit cargo surge, solidifying the port’s role as a key trade hub for the region.
Mombasa Port is on track to meet its revised 2024 targets, including handling 40.5 million tonnes in total cargo throughput and 1.972 million TEUs in container traffic. This growth is supported by emerging trends like green channel cold chain logistics for perishables and a boost in transshipment business.
With two months remaining in the year, stakeholders are optimistic about surpassing projections and achieving new records, provided the system inefficiencies are resolved promptly.