The Port of Mombasa handled a total of 41.1 million tons of cargo in 2024
The Port of Mombasa experienced a significant increase in cargo volume during the year 2024, from January to December.
The Port of Mombasa handled a total of 41.1 million tons of cargo, a significant increase compared to the 35.98 million tons recorded during the corresponding period in 2023. This growth of 5.1 million tons, or 14.1 percent, demonstrates the port’s resilience and ability to manage growing trade volumes despite global disruption.
In terms of container traffic, the port reached a significant milestone, exceeding 2 million TEUs for the first time in over a decade, with a total of 2,005,076 TEUs handled in 2024. This represents an increase of 381,996 TEUs, or a 23.5 percent rise compared to the 1,623,080 TEUs recorded in 2023.
Imports increased by 7.2 percent to reach 768,088 TEUs, up from 716,493 TEUs in 2023, while exports grew by 6.6 percent to reach 731,934 TEUs, up from 686,526 TEUs in 2023. Transit cargo volumes increased by 17.4 percent, reaching 13.4 million tons in 2024, highlighting the Port’s crucial role in regional trade.
Uganda remains the port’s main transit destination, accounting for 65.7 percent of transit cargo with 8,811,289 tons handled in 2024, up from 7,115,079 tons in 2023, representing growth of 1,696,210 tons or a 23.8 percent increase compared to 2023. Other notable transit destinations include South Sudan (12.7 percent), Democratic Republic of Congo (11.8 percent), Rwanda (5.1 percent), and Tanzania (3.4 percent).
Additionally, exceptional growth in transshipment traffic was recorded with 491,666 TEUs in 2024, reflecting an extraordinary increase of 280,593 TEUs, or 132.9 percent compared to 2023. This growth can be attributed to vessel diversions resulting from the Red Sea crisis and an increase in vessel calls to Mombasa, driven by our efficient turnaround times.
For the single month of December 2024, the port handled a total cargo throughput of 3,746,363 tons, marking a strong increase from the 3,029,482 tons recorded in December 2023. This remarkable rise of 716,881 tons translates to an approximate growth rate of 23.7%, showcasing the port’s expanding capacity and efficiency.
Similarly, container traffic experienced a significant upward trend in December 2024, with 188,495 TEUs processed compared to 152,326 TEUs handled in December 2023. This represents an increase of 36,169 TEUs, or 23.7%.
Transshipment traffic recorded 42,681 TEUs in December 2024 compared to 33,929 TEUs in December 2023. This marks an increase of 8,752 TEUs, or 25.8%.
Transit traffic registered 1,184,541 tons in December 2024, reflecting a major increase of 215,316 tons, or 22.2 percent compared to 969,225 tons in the same period in 2023.
