KPA Posts Robust Cargo Growth, Signalling Strong Trade Recovery and Regional Competitiveness

Kenya, 30 January 2026 - Kenya, 30 January 2026 - Kenya’s port system has recorded one of its strongest performances in recent years, reinforcing the country’s position as a critical maritime and logistics hub for East and Central Africa.

Data released by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) show that total cargo throughput reached a record 45.45 million metric tonnes in the year ending December 2025, up from 40.99 million metric tonnes in 2024. The increase of 4.46 million metric tonnes represents a solid 10.9% growth year-on-year.

The performance reflects a combination of rising regional trade, improved port efficiency, and sustained investments in infrastructure and operations.

KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto described the figures as evidence of a clear upward trend in both cargo volumes and operational effectiveness at Kenya’s ports, particularly the Port of Mombasa, which remains the backbone of the country’s maritime trade.

Container traffic growth was steady, with the port handling 2.11 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025 compared to 2.0 million TEUs in the previous year. This 5.5 per cent increase points to expanding containerised trade, driven largely by imports of manufactured goods, machinery, and consumer products destined for Kenya and its hinterland markets, including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Imports were the main driver of overall growth. Import cargo volumes rose sharply to 36 million metric tonnes from 30 million metric tonnes in 2024, representing a notable 20.1 per cent increase. This surge suggests stronger domestic demand, recovery in industrial activity, and increased transit cargo for neighbouring countries. It also reflects improved cargo clearance processes and enhanced coordination between port operations, customs, and logistics providers.

Export performance, while positive, remained modest by comparison. Export volumes increased slightly to 5.03 million metric tonnes from 4.96 million metric tonnes in 2024, an increase of about 64,000 metric tonnes or 1.3 per cent. The slower growth in exports underscores persistent structural challenges, including limited value addition, reliance on a narrow range of primary commodities, and vulnerability to global price fluctuations. Nonetheless, the marginal increase indicates some resilience in key export sectors such as agriculture and bulk commodities.

Maritime traffic into the Port of Mombasa also expanded, with vessel calls rising to 1,995 in 2025 from 1,873 the previous year. The higher number of ship arrivals points to increased confidence by global shipping lines in the port’s capacity, turnaround times, and reliability. Reduced dwell times and ongoing digitalisation efforts have played a role in improving the port’s attractiveness amid intense competition from other regional ports.