DAR ES SALAAM: THE Dar es Salaam Port handled a record 138,000 containers last month, up from between 50,000 and 60,000 containers per month in 2021, reflecting improved efficiency and increased capacity.

The performance reflects the impact of continued government investment aimed at expanding the port and strengthening Tanzania’s position as a regional trade hub.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports and Chief Government Spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa, said the milestone demonstrates progress in improving port operations and overall economic growth.

Speaking to journalists in Morogoro yesterday, Mr Msigwa said the achievement is among key indicators of positive developments driven by strategic infrastructure investments.

“In July we broke the record. Our port handled 138,000 containers, compared to 50,000 to 60,000 containers per month in 2021,” he said.

He noted that in the 2025/26 financial year, the port exceeded its cargo handling target of 28 million tonnes by processing 39.8 million tonnes.

Mr Msigwa said the government has invested about 3tri/- in expanding the port to enable it to handle more cargo and improve service delivery.

He said the port currently has 12 operational berths, while plans are underway to construct 16 more, with three already under construction.

Mr Msigwa added that efficiency has improved significantly, with ship waiting time reducing from about 46 days in previous years to around seven days.

“Ships now arrive, offload cargo and leave faster. Some delays may occur due to documentation and other operational issues,” he said.

He said the government is implementing a strategy to integrate cargo transport between the port and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), easing movement of goods to inland areas such as Morogoro and Dodoma.

Mr Msigwa also said preparations for the construction of Bagamoyo Port are progressing as part of broader efforts to enhance the country’s capacity to handle regional and international trade.

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He stressed that the government’s objective is to ensure that economic gains translate into tangible benefits for wananchi.

Under Dira 2050 (National Development Vision 2050), Tanzania aims to increase average income per person from about 3.5m/- currently to 18m/- by 2050, while expanding the economy to one-trillion-dollars from the current 95 billion US dollars.

“The focus is to ensure development reaches wananchi, including access to electricity, clean and safe water and health services,” he said.

He said access to clean and safe water has reached 95.7 per cent in urban areas and 82 per cent in rural areas, with the government targeting full coverage.

Mr Msigwa added that most villages are now connected to electricity, with efforts continuing to reach remaining areas.

He said electricity demand is expected to increase as more wananchi adopt modern lifestyles. He assured that the government will continue engaging relevant authorities to ensure electricity remains affordable.