Tanzanian government has launched consultations with dry port operators and public institutions on expanding and improving the capacity of inland container depots following a sharp rise in cargo volumes at the Dar es Salaam Port, an official said on Saturday.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the establishment and operation of dry ports in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam, Mohamed Salum, director general of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation, urged operators to acquire larger areas to accommodate growing throughput.

According to Salum, the port is currently handling an average of 110,000 tonnes of cargo per month, significantly exceeding its designed capacity of 28,000 tonnes, which underlines the urgent need for expanded container storage facilities.

Mussa Shashula, assistant director for maritime transport services in the Ministry of Transport, speaking on behalf of the ministry’s permanent secretary, said cargo volumes at the Dar es Salaam Port surged from 18 million tonnes in the 2021/2022 financial year to 32 million tonnes in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Shashula said projections indicate cargo throughput could reach 34 million tonnes in the 2025/2026 financial year. He said the increase has prompted the government to continue implementing strategies to improve dry port infrastructure in line with the rapid growth of trade and cargo transportation in the country. 

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report