The port of Mombasa has defied a global economic crunch to post improved performance over the last twelve months.

Cargo throughput at the port grew by an impressive 6.2 percent reaching 35.98 metric tonnes.

The growth is attributed to a substantial increase in containerised cargo which registered a remarkable 14.8 percent rise accounting for over half of the cargo handled at the port.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director (MD) Captain William Ruto said the port also registered a double digit growth of 11.9 percent in container traffic reaching a total of 1.62 million twenty-foot units.

This, he said, reflected the port’s efficiency and economic resilience in the region driving demand for imports and exports.

He attributed the growth to improved vessel turnaround times, container vessel productivity and truck turnaround times which have shown marked improvement.

KPA, he said, will continue to improve operational efficiency through capacity expansion and modernisation efforts to meet the growing d
emand for trade.

This, he said, will ensure the Port of Mombasa is well positioned to maintain its status as a key player in the global trade landscape.

‘As we move forward, we remain committed to enhancing trade facilitation and economic development in Kenya and the broader East Africa region,’ he said.

In a speech read on his behalf by KPA General Manager for Corporate Services Edward Kamau during a golf tournament in Kisumu, Ruto said the transit market segment has also grown by 11.5 percent.

While Uganda remained the primary transit country, KPA, he said, has recorded significant growth in volumes for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Kisumu Port which has been revived, he said, has also improved significantly posting a 119 percent growth.

He said the facility handled 127,745 metric tonnes in 2023 up from 58, 290 metric tonnes in 2022.

To maximise operations at the facility, the KPA Boss said they were revitalizing piers and other small ports in the lake region.

Construct
ion of the Homa Bay pier, he said was ongoing with others slated to begin later in the year.

David Odhiambo of the Nyanza Golf Club was crowned the winner of the tournament after garnering 41 points playing off a handicap of 25.

Source: Kenya News Agency