Tanzania Ports Authority

What Tanzania Ports Authority does

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is a statutory government body under Tanzania's Ministry of Transport that operates, manages, and develops the country's network of seaports, lake ports, and inland dry ports. Its flagship facility, Dar es Salaam port, has 13 berths capable of handling Post-Panamax vessels and serves as the primary maritime gateway not only for Tanzania but also for eight landlocked East and Southern African nations (DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe). TPA runs two additional sea ports (Tanga, Mtwara), lake port networks on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa, and multiple dry ports, with a stated 17% increase in cargo handled in FY 2024/25 reaching record volumes.

The authority's service portfolio spans cargo handling, harbor services (pilotage, towage, mooring), transshipment, and a digital e-Port stack comprising TePP for trade documentation, POAS for operations advisory, TOS for terminal operations, a Tariff Calculator, and a real-time Dar Port Marine Traffic map. Pricing is transaction-based under publicly published Sea Port and Lake Port Tariff Books, with revenue derived from vessel and cargo charges across all TPA facilities. Distribution and customer development are executed through eight in-country representative offices in the regional landlocked states, participation in pan-African trade fairs, stakeholder forums (Baraza dialogues), and bilateral diplomatic engagement.

Commercially, TPA is pursuing an aggressive capacity expansion: a new 500-metre berth under construction, preparations for four additional berths (12-15) at Dar es Salaam, development of new ports at Mbegani, Bagamoyo, and Kwala Dry Port, and concessional loan discussions with the World Bank. Strategic partnerships with Grindrod Logistics Africa and Uganda Railways Corporation extend the business into rail and lake multimodal transport, while the Mtwara–Comoros cement corridor (10,000+ tonnes/month of Dangote cement) demonstrates emerging bulk-cargo transshipment activity. As a government entity, TPA does not raise private capital; its growth is funded through state-backed financing and multilateral development bank loans.

Name

Tanzania Ports Authority

Legal name

Tanzania Ports Authority

Website

https://ports.go.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tanzania Ports Authority is a government statutory body that operates the country's seaports, lake ports, and dry ports, with Dar es Salaam as the primary maritime gateway for Tanzania and eight landlocked East and Southern African neighbors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations and Maritime Logistics

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (48832)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Dues, Permitting & Regulatory Clearances (TLAHAFAD), Port Stakeholder Coordination (Terminal, Agents, Customs, Pilots, Tugs) (TLAHAFAJ), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA), Port Billing, Tariff, Invoicing & Revenue Management Systems (TLAHAOAI), Cargo Visibility, Track & Trace & Port Analytics (ETA/ETD, Dwell, Predictive) (TLAHAOAH)

Keywords

• Port operations
• Maritime logistics
• Cargo handling
• Port infrastructure
• Transit trade

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilala

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Port Service Charges: Revenue generated from charges levied on vessels and cargo using TPA port facilities, including berth fees, cargo handling fees, harbor dues, and ancillary port services at all TPA-operated ports.
2. Trade Volume Growth: Cargo volume growth of 17% in FY 2024/25 drives increased revenue through higher throughput of import, export, and transshipment cargo across Tanzania's seaports and lake ports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tanzania Ports Authority operates and develops the country's seaport, lake port, and dry port infrastructure—including Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara seaports—and delivers cargo handling, harbor services, transshipment, and stakeholder services to importers, exporters, shipping lines, and transit cargo from eight landlocked neighboring countries. The authority supplements physical port operations with e-port digital services (TePP, POAS, TOS, Tariff Calculator) that enable electronic trade documentation, terminal operations, and online tariff calculation.

Product overview

Tanzania Ports Authority operates a comprehensive port network comprising sea ports (Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mtwara), lake ports (Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa), and dry ports. The digital ecosystem includes e-Port Services (TePP for trade documentation, POAS for operations automation, TOS for terminal management, Tariff Calculator, and Shipping List). Core services encompass cargo handling, harbor services, transhipment, and stakeholder services. Dar es Salaam Port, the primary facility with 13 Post-Panamax berths, is undergoing expansion with new berths 12-15 under development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargo Services
• Harbor Services
• Stakeholders Service
• Support Services
• Transshipment Services
• Export Process Services
• Import Process Services
• TePP (Trade Electronic Data Interchange Portal)
• POAS (Port Operations Advisory System)
• TOS (Terminal Operating System)
• Tariff Calculator
• Shipping List Service
• Sea Port Tariff Book
• Lake Ports Tariff Book
• Dar es Salaam Port
• Tanga Port
• Mtwara Port
• Lake Victoria Ports
• Lake Tanganyika Ports
• Lake Nyasa Port
• Dry Ports
• DMGP (Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project)

Quantifiable outcome

• 17% increase in cargo volumes during FY 2024/25 at Dar es Salaam port
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Government of DenmarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Danish Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Jesper Kammersgaard, expressed Denmark's interest in strengthening cooperation with Tanzania in developing the transport sector through TPA, particularly noting the strategic development of Dar es Salaam port and TPA's plans for Mbegani Bagamoyo and Kwala Dry Port.
• Comoros Government / TradersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraders from the Comoros Islands, facilitated by their ambassador to Tanzania Dr. Ahamada El Badaoui Mohamed, are working with TPA to handle increasing volumes of cement imports (over 10,000 tonnes/month) through Mtwara port for construction projects in Comoros.
• Grindrod Logistics AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPA is partnering with Grindrod Logistics Africa to build rail capacity and multimodal logistics solutions, particularly for cargo destined for Uganda, enhancing the rail-and-road transport network to reduce congestion at Dar es Salaam port.
• Uganda Railways Corporation (URC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPA collaborates with Uganda Railways Corporation to provide rail transport services for cargo moving between Dar es Salaam port and Uganda via Lake Victoria, offering multimodal transport options that reduce road congestion and improve logistics efficiency.
• Dangote CementChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComoros-based traders import over 10,000 tonnes of Dangote cement per month through Mtwara port, representing a significant bulk cargo partnership for the port. The cement originates from Dangote manufacturing operations and transits through TPA's Mtwara port facility.
• CRDB BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCRDB Bank board member Charles Carley praised TPA for its efforts in expanding market reach in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), indicating a banking partnership supporting trade facilitation and potentially financing cargo movements for DRC clients.
• Bandari CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBandari College (bandari.ac.tz) operates as TPA's associated training institution providing maritime and port management education, supporting talent development for Tanzania's port sector.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority: National port authority of Djibouti managing the Doraleh Container Terminal and serving Ethiopia as the primary landlocked neighbour — a structurally analogous national-port-to-landlocked-neighbour model.
• Sea Ports Corporation (Sudan): Sudan's national port authority operating Port Sudan and other Red Sea terminals. Comparable in being a sovereign port authority serving national and transit trade across developing-region economies.
• Kenya Ports Authority: National port authority of Kenya operating Mombasa and Lamu ports. Direct competitor to TPA for transit cargo from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC, offering a comparable statutory port model.
• CFM — Mozambique Ports and Railways: Mozambique state-owned port and rail operator managing Maputo, Beira and Nacala ports. Competes with TPA for transit cargo from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, sharing a state-port-and-rail operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Transnet National Ports Authority: South Africa's statutory port authority operating Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and other terminals. Larger and broader portfolio, but analogous state-port-authority operating model serving regional trade.
• Nigerian Ports Authority: Nigeria's national port authority managing multiple seaports including Lagos and Onne. Functions as a comparable African state port operator with a more diversified but analogous statutory mandate.
• APM Terminals: Global container terminal operator (Maersk subsidiary) with African operations including Tangier, Tema, and Abidjan. Comparable as a major terminal operator competing for shipping line calls that TPA seeks.
• International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI): Global container terminal operator with African involvement including a long-standing presence at Mombasa. Comparable as a third-party terminal operator whose concessions shape competitive dynamics TPA faces.
• DP World: Global terminal operator with significant African presence (e.g., Berbera, Dakar). Operates competing terminal concessions and offers a global benchmark on port operating efficiency, digital services and tariff models relevant to TPA.

Others

• Grindrod Limited / Grindrod Logistics Africa: South African freight and logistics group that is explicitly partnered with TPA for rail and multimodal logistics services for Uganda. Adjacent logistics operator and ecosystem partner to TPA rather than direct port competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tpa_tz
• Facebookfacebook.com/tpatanzania
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-of-dar-es-salaam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tanzania Ports Authority