R3bn Maputo port expansion kicks off

A $164-million (R3-billion) expansion project set to more than double the capacity at the Port of Maputo has kicked off.The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), in partnership with DP World, a Dubai-based logistics multinational, on Monday announced the commencement of the first phase of the container terminal expansion works at the port."The work starts today and marks the first phase of an ambitious plan to increase the terminal's capacity from the current 255 000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 530 000 TEUs per year," the Port of Maputo said in a statement.A deepened quay and expanded infrastructure will enable the Port of Maputo to receive larger vessels, gaining competitiveness in the region and positioning Maputo as an ideal hub for the transfer of goods between ships in the region by 2026.Amid a logistics crisis in South Africa, Maputo has become a key alternative route for certain commodity exports.The MPDC said the expansion is expected to take two years to complete and will enhance the terminal's operational efficiency while also making freight rates more competitive, directly benefitting Mozambican exporters and logistics operators.Key developments include the expansion of the container storage yard to 6.48 hectares; the construction of an additional 400 metres of quay – bringing the total to 650 metres in this phase; and the deepening of the berth draft from -12 metres to -16 metres, allowing the terminal to accommodate new post Panamax-class vessels of up to 366 metres in length overall.Additionally, over 700 reefer plugs - power outlets for refrigerated containers - will be installed to support the growth of agricultural exports, particularly citrus products from Limpopo in South Africa and from Massingir in Mozambique."The expansion of the container terminal marks the first big milestone of the strategic vision for the future of the Port ...[ and] represents a significant step in strengthening the Port of Maputo’s position as a leading logistics hub in Southern Africa," said Osório Lucas, CEO of MPDC. "This strategic investment will deliver significant benefits to the country, including bolstering mineral and agricultural exports, reducing logistical costs, and creating new direct and indirect jobs," he added.Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and MD of DP World in sub-Saharan Africa, said the investments will help change the landscape of shipping on the east coast of Africa, and reinforce Mozambique's position as a key gateway for cargo movement throughout the region.-FIN24

R3bn Maputo port expansion kicks off

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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R3bn Maputo port expansion kicks off

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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