HMM to launch Mombasa-India service with 2,500 TEU vessel

KENYA – Hyundai Merchant Marine is set to enter the Kenyan market by launching a new service linking the Port of Mombasa to India via Nhava Sheva, according to the Kenya Ports Authority.

The service will begin next month and will deploy a weekly vessel with an initial capacity of 2,500 TEUs.

It will operate as a consortium comprising six slot partners: HMM, PIL, Cosco, ONE, OOCL and Inchcape Shipping.

Strategic significance

HMM’s entry comes as the Port of Mombasa continues to strengthen its standing as a maritime gateway for Kenya and the wider East African region.

The Kenya Ports Authority has pursued an investment programme to expand and modernize port infrastructure to meet the demands of regional and international trade.

Managing Director Capt. William Ruto welcomed the new service, saying it affirms the Port of Mombasa’s growing reputation as a regional hub.

HMM comments

Mr. Jang Wonjun, Senior Vice President and Head of the Container Logistics Management Office at HMM’s Korea headquarters, attributed HMM’s entry into Kenya to the Port of Mombasa’s strategic position as the region’s hub.

The team thanked the Kenya Ports Authority and expressed its anticipation of a successful maiden voyage and future HMM services at Mombasa.

Port infrastructure

The Port of Mombasa handles approximately 2.1 million TEUs annually and serves as a gateway for goods moving to and from Kenya and several landlocked countries in East and Central Africa, such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

The port has expanded its capacity through several projects. The Kenya Ports Authority is constructing Berth 19B and a container yard at Berth 23, while Container Freight Stations handle domestic cargo outside the port, thereby creating additional space.

In August 2026, the authority implemented a Smart Gate pilot at Gate 24 and the Advanced Cargo Declaration system, which enables cargo documentation to be processed before goods are loaded at the port of origin.

Regional shipping expansion

The new service follows other shipping lines that have added capacity in Mombasa. In August 2026, Taiwan-based Interasia Lines announced a weekly service to Mombasa in partnership with HMM, PIL and COSCO, targeting rising demand between Asia and East Africa.

Finally, the new HMM service reflects growing carrier confidence in Mombasa’s standing as an East African logistics hub, as the port continues to prioritize infrastructure investment and regional connectivity.

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