DP World launches U$165M expansion at Maputo Port

MOZAMBIQUE – DP World and the Government of Mozambique began work on a US$165 million project today to double the capacity of the container terminal at the Port of Maputo.

Transport and Logistics Minister João Jorge Matlomb joined executives on site to celebrate the launch and highlight the project’s role in driving job creation and economic growth across the region.

“The container terminal expansion shows our commitment to boost Mozambique’s economy alongside our partners in the Maputo Port Development Company,” said Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director for Sub‑Saharan Africa at DP World.

“This investment will help Maputo serve as a vital gateway for Southern Africa and welcome larger container ships.”

The upgrade will add 6.48 hectares to the terminal yard, lifting annual throughput from 255,000 to 530,000 twenty‑foot equivalent units. DP World will extend quay length to 650 meters and deepen the berth to 16 meters.

Plans include three new ship‑to‑shore cranes for post‑Panamax vessels, an expanded fleet of rubber‑tyred gantry cranes, and enhanced reef­er container capacity—rising from 450 to 715 plugs – to support agricultural exports.

“These improvements will speed up ship turnarounds and lower freight rates,” Captain Sumeet Bhardwaj, CEO of DP World Maputo, said. “Farmers, manufacturers and exporters across Mozambique and beyond will move goods to global markets faster and more affordably. That will strengthen communities and drive inclusive growth.”

DP World will also modernize digital systems. The terminal operation system will receive an upgrade, and a new vehicle booking system will manage gate traffic.

The port’s client community system will link shipping lines, customs and banks, cutting paperwork and transaction times. Optical character recognition will automate container checks at the gate, improving accuracy and reducing delays.

The project includes new facilities for additional staff to ensure a skilled labour force and safeguard worker welfare. DP World will install advanced CCTV and expand live monitoring to boost safety.

Recent developments in Southern Africa

Just last month, DP World opened a temperature‑controlled warehouse in Walvis Bay, Namibia. The new facility at Deep Catch Namibia’s Atlantic Commercial Cold Store site offers 50 percent more storage, serving Seapride Foods Coastal with room for 720 pallets.

“This investment reflects our confidence in Namibia’s growth, from tourism to mining to future hydrogen projects,” said Bruce Denyer, DP World Executive Vice President Market Access Consumer for sub‑Saharan Africa.

Christoph Kubirske, Managing Director of Deep Catch Namibia Holdings, added, “By building this new cold store, we ensure better service levels and ease the strain on local power infrastructure.” Denyer noted that the facility will boost efficiency and keep food at optimal quality standards.

With both the Maputo terminal expansion and the Walvis Bay warehouse, DP World continues to strengthen Southern Africa’s trade network, creating opportunities for businesses and communities across the region.

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