Mombasa port posts 8.1 per cent cargo growth despite shipping woes
Between January and June, cargo volumes reached 21.3 million tonnes, up from 19.7 million tonnes in the same period last year, according to data released by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
The Port of Mombasa recorded an 8.1 per cent rise in cargo traffic during the first half of 2025, with improved infrastructure and faster cargo handling helping the facility overcome international shipping disruptions linked to instability along the Red Sea route.
Between January and June, cargo volumes reached 21.3 million tonnes, up from 19.7 million tonnes in the same period last year, according to data released by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
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The growth came even as port operations around the world were affected by attacks from the Houthi rebel group that have threatened a key global shipping lane.
Container traffic at the port grew by 6.7 per cent, rising from 948,983 to 1,012,949 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Both imports and exports saw growth, with import containers increasing by 48,793 TEUs (13.4 per cent) and exports up by 50,572 TEUs (14.4 per cent).
KPA managing director William Ruto said, “The primary contributors to this success were liquid bulk, dry bulk, and loose cargo, which increased by 766,763 tonnes (16.2 per cent), 418,910 tonnes (11.6 per cent), and 371,514 tonnes (44.7 per cent), respectively.”
“Against this backdrop and the impressive results attained, we are excited and optimistic about the promising performance that lies ahead,” he added.
The Mombasa port is a key trade corridor for Kenya and its landlocked neighbours, including Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.
It handles both imports, such as fuel and consumer goods, as well as exports like tea and coffee, and its performance is viewed as a measure of the region’s economic health.
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