Transit cargo moving through Kenya’s ports surged 19.5 percent in 2025, reaching a record 15.88 million metric tonnes from 13.29 million tonnes in 2024, according to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) performance report released last week. The growth underscores Kenya’s strengthening role as a key logistics and trade gateway for East and Central Africa.
The transit traffic figures, representing goods destined for inland and landlocked markets, reflect stronger trade flows to neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tanzania. Transit markets across these regions reported substantial growth, with Uganda posting the highest increase at 25.2 percent, Rwanda at 22.8 percent, and the DRC at 16.5 percent.
This performance comes amid a broader record year for Kenya’s main seaport. Total cargo throughput at the Port of Mombasa reached 45.45 million metric tonnes from January to December 2025, up 10.9 percent from 40.99 million tonnes the previous year. The increase equates to an additional 4.46 million tonnes of cargo handled at the facility, a milestone in the port’s recent history.
Container traffic at Mombasa also climbed, with total throughput rising to 2.11 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up from 2.00 million TEUs in 2024, a 5.5 percent increase.
Transit cargo statistics are an important indicator of the port’s strategic utility. Much of this freight moves overland to landlocked neighbours, particularly Uganda and Rwanda, using Kenya’s transport corridor infrastructure spanning road, rail and inland container depots. The port’s performance confirms its role within the Northern Corridor, a transport network that connects Mombasa to multiple East African economies and beyond.
In presentation remarks accompanying the figures, KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto highlighted that the transit growth reflects not just increased volumes, but also heightened confidence in Kenya’s trade corridor capabilities. “These numbers reaffirm Mombasa’s position as the most reliable and most preferred trade corridor in the region,” Capt. Ruto said.
Growth was not confined to Mombasa alone. Secondary ports under KPA’s management also registered improvements:
- Lamu Port recorded a remarkable rise in throughput, handling 799,161 tonnes in 2025 compared to 74,380 tonnes the year prior, driven mainly by containerised cargo and increased shipping services.
- The Port of Kisumu, on Lake Victoria, processed 496,516 tonnes; a 55 percent increase from 295,516 tonnes in 2024.
These gains reflect a concerted push by the authority to expand capacity and streamline operations across Kenya’s port ecosystem.
KPA officials attributed the strong overall performance in part to ongoing infrastructure upgrades, modernisation efforts and service improvements. Key initiatives include expansions of berths and yard space, notably berths 19B, 23 and 24, which, once completed, are expected to add capacity for 1.4 million additional TEUs of container traffic. Upgrades to the Terminal Operating System and gate automation, currently part-completed, are also expected to boost operational efficiency and throughput.
Moreover, KPA is investing in new and modern equipment and advancing partnerships with stakeholders across the maritime and logistics industry to further enhance service levels and competitiveness.
Despite strong figures, challenges persist. The port has experienced periods of congestion at container depots and berths due to higher volumes and increased vessel calls, underscoring the need for continued investment in infrastructure capacity to prevent bottlenecks from eroding recent gains.
As Kenya’s maritime gateway continues to evolve, the 19.5 percent transit cargo growth in 2025 sends a clear signal to regional traders and international shipping lines: the Port of Mombasa remains a pivotal gateway for African trade. With planned expansions and efficiency drives underway, stakeholders expect these trends to continue into 2026 and beyond, reinforcing economic integration and trade competitiveness across the region.
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