The initial phase of $164 million is set to more than double the container terminal's annual capacity from 255,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 530,000 TEUs within two years.
The upgrades are part of efforts to position Maputo as a major regional shipping hub, as increased cargo volumes flow through the port due to logistics challenges in neighboring South Africa.
The first phase will include extending the quay from 250 meters to 650 meters and deepening the berth draught to 16 meters to accommodate larger vessels, said Osorio Lucas, CEO of MPDC.
MPDC is a consortium comprising multinational logistics company DP World, South Africa’s Grindrod, and Mozambique’s state-owned rail operator, Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique.
Following a dip in exports last year due to civil unrest after contested elections in Mozambique, Lucas indicated that operations are expected to recover in the coming months.
The project is viewed as a key step in improving regional trade routes and enhancing Maputo’s competitiveness as a shipping and logistics hub.
