Uganda’s cargo traffic through Mombasa grew by 12 percent to 7,112,971 tons in 2017 from 6,346,715 tons in 2016, according to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
According to KPA, the increase means that Uganda had a 82.3 percent share of the total transit cargo through the port between the two years.
“Uganda’s import traffic is the driver of this growth, recording a notable volume of 6,590.095 tons in 2017 against 5,922,160 tons handled in 2016, Edward Kamau, the General Manager Corporate Services Kenya Ports Authority, said.
South Sudan came second behind Uganda in traffic transit traffic through Mombasa Port with a total traffic of 673,752 tons in 2017 up from 597,852 tons in 2016 representing.
The Democratic Republic of Congo had about 360,124 tons down from 376,935 tons in 2016. It represented a 4.2 percent share of total transit cargo in 2017 through Mombasa Port. Rwanda and Tanzania had reduced levels of transit cargo through Mombasa Port while Burundi had an increase of 0.3 percent.
He said exports as well as imports realized a marginal increase of 522,876 tons in 2017 against 424,555 tons handled in 2016, reflecting a mild increase of 23.2 percent.
The total cargo through the port grew by 10.9 percent recording 30.35 million tons from the 27.36 million tons that was recorded in 2016. KPA attributed the growth in volumes to improved efficiency as well as the ongoing investment in infrastructure development at the port.
He said imports through Mombasa Port grew by 10.7 percent posting 25.6 million tons in 2017 from 23.12 million tons in 2016. It accounted for a dominant traffic share of 84.4 percent of the total throughput reflecting a huge imbalance of trade.
He said exports increased by 3.8 percent recording 3.8million tons up from 1.09 million tons handled in 2016. Container traffic increased by 9 percent recording 1.19 million TEU in 2017 up from 1.09 million TEU handled in 2016.
“Transit traffic posted a significant increase from 7.75 million tons in 2016 to 8.63 million tons in 2017, reflecting a notable volume growth of 888,069 tons or 11.5 percent” he said.
