France’s CMA CGM to invests US$756M in Mombasa Port terminals, boosts Kenya hub
The investment is expected to provide a major boost to the government’s efforts to modernize port facilities along the Kenyan coast.
KENYA – French shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM is set to invest €700 million (US$756 million) to modernize and expand terminals at the Port of Mombasa under a new agreement signed with the Kenyan government.
The investment deal was announced on Monday, 11 May, during the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi in the presence of President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.
This project will renovate and upgrade two terminals, positioning Mombasa as a stronger regional trade hub.
Expanding Capacity and Modernizing Freight Systems
CMA CGM said the partnership aims to expand port capacity, modernize freight management systems, and improve inland logistics networks linking Kenya to the wider East and Central African region.
The investment is expected to increase cargo-handling capacity, strengthen regional trade corridors, and enhance Kenya’s connectivity to global shipping markets amid rising demand for maritime transport across the region.
Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Bonds
The investment is expected to provide a major boost to the government’s efforts to modernize port facilities along the Kenyan coast.
In April 2025, the National Treasury said it was pursuing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to upgrade the ports of Mombasa and Lamu in response to rising cargo volumes at the two key harbours.
To finance the upgrades, Kenya had planned to issue infrastructure bonds aimed at long-term investors, such as pension funds and insurance firms, to support the port modernization programme.
Earlier government plans indicated that the expansion would include upgrading the Port of Mombasa’s container terminal and dredging the seabed to accommodate larger vessels.
Broader National Port Strategy
In 2021, the government also launched the Port of Lamu to serve northern trade corridors targeting countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Operational Takeaways
For fresh produce exporters and logistics investors, this €700 million investment signals improved efficiency for perishable cargo passing through Mombasa.
Larger vessel capacity and modernized freight management systems will reduce waiting times at the berth, while upgraded inland logistics networks will streamline container movement to landlocked markets.
As CMA CGM deepens its footprint in East Africa, shippers gain access to integrated maritime and inland solutions that reduce spoilage risk for horticultural exports and improve supply chain predictability across the region.
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