The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has taken a significant step in expanding the Port of Mombasa by signing a contract with China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) to construct Berth 19 B.
The agreement, formalized at a brief ceremony at KPA Headquarters recently, saw KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto and CCCC Managing Director Mr. Yu Xiaodong officially seal the deal.
The new berth, spanning 240 meters, is a strategic addition aimed at accommodating the increasing ship traffic at the port, aligning with KPA’s long-term objectives of enhancing capacity, modernizing infrastructure, and improving overall efficiency.
Captain Ruto emphasized that the development of Berth 19B is a critical step in reinforcing the Port of Mombasa as a key trade gateway for the region.
“This investment would ease congestion and improve turnaround times for vessels. The new berth is expected to increase the port’s annual handling capacity by an additional 300,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), further strengthening Mombasa’s position as a leading maritime hub in East and Central Africa,” Captain William Ruto, KPA Managing Director, said.
This expansion comes at a time when the Port of Mombasa is experiencing record-breaking growth in container traffic, having surpassed the 2 million TEUs mark for the first time, reaching 2.005 million TEUs in 2024—a 24 percent increase compared to 2023. This growth has been driven by KPA’s continuous investment in modern equipment, infrastructure upgrades, and streamlined operational systems.
“With the construction of Berth 19B, KPA aims to sustain this positive trajectory by enhancing efficiency and attracting more shipping lines to Mombasa,” Captain Ruto said.
The development is also expected to contribute to Kenya’s broader economic growth by facilitating smoother trade flows and reinforcing the port’s competitiveness on the global stage. Construction is set to commence immediately, with expectations that the berth will be operational within the stipulated timeframe, further solidifying Mombasa’s role as a critical trade gateway for Kenya and the wider East African region.
In addition to the expansion, the Port of Mombasa has recorded a remarkable increase in cargo throughput for the year 2024, further reinforcing its status as East Africa’s premier maritime hub. Between January and December, the port handled a total of 41.1 million tons of cargo, marking a significant rise from 35.98 million tons in 2023. This increase of 5.1 million tons, or 14.1 percent, highlights the port’s resilience in managing rising trade volumes despite global disruptions.”
Container traffic registered a historic milestone, surpassing 2 million TEUs for the first time in over a decade, with a total of 2,005,076 TEUs handled in 2024—an increase of 381,996 TEUs, or 23.5 percent, compared to 2023. The trade breakdown reveals a 7.2 percent increase in imports, rising to 768,088 TEUs from 716,493 TEUs in 2023. Exports saw a 6.6 percent growth, reaching 731,934 TEUs from 686,526 TEUs in the previous year. Transit cargo grew by 17.4 percent to 13.4 million tons in 2024, underscoring the port’s critical role in regional trade.
“The construction of Berth 19B is a significant milestone in enhancing the efficiency and capacity of our regional ports. This development aligns with the growing demands of trade in East Africa and will greatly improve cargo handling, reducing congestion and turnaround times at the port. The Executive Director of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), Mr. Elias Baluku, commended this investment, stating that it will enhance the logistics sector’s competitiveness and facilitate smoother regional trade. “We look forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to maximize the benefits of this expansion for the freight-forwarding community and the broader economy,” he said.
This article was published by Githua Kihara, an editorial consultant for FEAFFA’s Freight Logistics Magazine. For any inquiries, please contact us via email at editorial@feaffa.com or freightlogistics@feaffa.com, or reach out to Andrew Onionga directly at onionga@feaffa.com / +254733780240.
