Port charges at Mombasa and Dar es Salaam
- Mombasa tariff
- Kenya Ports Authority Tariff Book 2025, in effect from 22 December 2025 4
- Dar es Salaam tariff
- Tanzania Ports Authority Tariff Book, Sea Ports, January 2026 1
- Mombasa terminal handling charge, Emirates Shipping Line, 20 ft standard
- US$110 from 15 September 2025 2
- Dar es Salaam stevedoring, full container up to 20 ft
- US$100 1
- Dar es Salaam Green Port charge
- US$50 up to 20 ft, US$100 over 20 ft 1
- Mombasa truck port pass fee
- KSh 15,000, up from KSh 3,000 5
Tariff dates
KPA published its revised tariff in 2025 under section 30 of the Kenya Ports Authority Act, Cap 391. It replaces rates in place since 2012 and was first set to start on 15 September 2025, as reported by Maureen Kinyanjui in The Eastleigh Voice 5. The Standard reported that the tariffs were published in July 2025 7. The Eastleigh Voice reported that the Tariff Book 2025 was released in August 2025 6.
On 11 September 2025 the High Court granted the Container Freight Station Association of Kenya leave to challenge the tariff, and the leave operated as a stay 6. Business Daily reported on 21 December 2025 that the case had been withdrawn and that the rates would take effect on 22 December 2025 4. The Standard reported on 7 January 2026 that Justice Jairus Ngaah dismissed the application with costs 7. Kenyans.co.ke reported that implementation began on 22 December 2025 3.
The TPA tariff book is dated January 2026 and takes effect as set out in Government Gazette No. 3 of 2026 1. TPA said its revised charges took effect on 9 January 2026 and raised fees by 2 to 15 percent, as reported by Anthony Kitimo in The East African 8.
Container handling at Dar es Salaam
TPA publishes container charges in US dollars per container. Selected items from the January 2026 tariff 1:
| Item (clause) | Up to 20 ft | Over 20 ft |
|---|---|---|
| Stevedoring, full container (11.1(a)) 1 | US$100 1 | US$150 1 |
| Shore handling, domestic full container (14.2.1) 1 | US$90 1 | US$135 1 |
| Shore handling, transit full container (14.2.2) 1 | US$80 1 | US$120 1 |
| Wharfage, transit full container imports (12.4(a)) 1 | US$90 1 | US$180 1 |
| Green Port Initiatives charge (15.1(b)(i)) 1 | US$50 1 | US$100 1 |
Container handling at Mombasa
The KPA tariff book could not be opened for this page. The figures below come from a shipping line notice and from named press reports. Emirates Shipping Line told customers on 18 August 2025 that its Mombasa terminal handling charges would change from 15 September 2025 under the new KPA tariff 2.
Storage
- Mombasa: imported container storage after the free period costs KSh 9,000 to KSh 15,000 a day under the Tariff Book 2025, as reported by Reginald Mosagwe for Kenyans.co.ke 3.
- Mombasa: storage of dangerous cargo containers rose to KSh 12,000 a day from KSh 6,000, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke 3.
- Dar es Salaam: domestic full container imports get 5 free days, then pay US$20 or US$40 a day for days 6 to 15, then US$40 or US$80 a day 1.
- Dar es Salaam: transit full container imports get 15 free days, then pay US$20 or US$40 a day for days 16 to 21, then US$40 or US$80 a day 1.
Other charges
- Mombasa: the truck port pass fee rose from KSh 3,000 to KSh 15,000, and clearing and forwarding agents face a new annual operations licence fee of US$300 5.
- Mombasa: late cargo submission by exporters carries a KSh 15,000 penalty per container 3.
- Dar es Salaam: domestic cargo pays wharfage of 1.6% ad valorem 1.
- Dar es Salaam: domestic import cargo pays a Port Infrastructure Development charge of 0.09 of customs duty 1.
Reading the two tariffs side by side
The items do not line up one to one. The Mombasa figures above are a shipping line's terminal handling charge, which it says follows the KPA tariff 2. The Dar es Salaam figures are TPA's own stevedoring, shore handling and wharfage items 1. The official tariffs are published by KPA and TPA 9,10.
Common questions
When did the new Mombasa port tariff start?
Business Daily and Kenyans.co.ke reported that the KPA Tariff Book 2025 took effect on 22 December 2025 3,4.
When did the new Dar es Salaam port tariff start?
TPA said its revised charges took effect on 9 January 2026 8. The tariff book is dated January 2026 1.
How many free storage days does a transit container get at Dar es Salaam?
Transit full container imports get the first 15 days free 1.
Was the KPA tariff challenged in court?
Yes. The High Court stayed it in September 2025 6. Business Daily reported the case was withdrawn 4. The Standard reported the application was dismissed with costs 7.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email hello@corridorcosts.org with the official link.
Sources
- Tanzania Ports Authority: Tariff Book, Sea Ports (January 2026)
- Emirates Shipping Line, provider page: Customer advisory, Mombasa revised THC from 15 September 2025 (18 August 2025)
- Kenyans.co.ke: KPA effects new cargo handling fees, by Reginald Mosagwe (22 December 2025)
- Business Daily: KPA begins rollout of revised tariffs at Mombasa and Lamu ports, by Anthony Kitimo (21 December 2025)
- The Eastleigh Voice: KPA's tariff hike draws uproar ahead of September rollout, by Maureen Kinyanjui (9 August 2025)
- The Eastleigh Voice: Court halts KPA tariff hike pending hearing of case, by Maureen Kinyanjui (11 September 2025)
- The Standard: CFSs lose battle over KPA's revised tariff book, by Joackim Bwana (7 January 2026)
- The East African: Traders brace for higher costs as Tanzania joins Kenya in raising port tariffs, by Anthony Kitimo (17 February 2026)
- Kenya Ports Authority: official website, tariffs and customer notices
- Tanzania Ports Authority: Sea Port Tariff Book page (accessed 20 October 2026)
Related
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- Central Corridor: Dar es Salaam to Kigali
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