Africa's maritime trade is booming, with Mombasa and Lamu ports expanding connections to Asia and inland markets, but challenges like border delays and infrastructure gaps remain.
Africa's trade relies on global and regional connections
About 85 percent of African trade happens with countries outside the continent, while trade between African nations involves more manufactured goods. Ports and the routes connecting them to inland markets are becoming more important for trade and economic unity.New maritime links from Mombasa to Asia
Since September, the Kenyan port of Mombasa has added new weekly shipping routes to India. Companies like OOCL have started services linking Indian ports to Mombasa, while Ocean Network Express and Pacific International Lines have expanded their operations in East Africa. These improvements aim to enhance trade across the continent.Africa sees fastest maritime growth in 2024–2025
Between June 2024 and June 2025, maritime connectivity in Africa improved by 10 percent, the highest growth rate globally, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Disruptions in the Red Sea redirected shipping routes, contributing to this increase. Cameroon saw a 54 percent rise, largely due to the port of Kribi, where container capacity nearly tripled.Mombasa handles growing cargo volumes
In 2025, nearly 16 million tons of cargo passed through Mombasa, up almost 20 percent from the previous year. Uganda accounted for most of this traffic, with volumes to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo also increasing. Mombasa is a key maritime gateway for several African economies.Lamu port sees rapid growth
The port of Lamu handled 799,161 tons of cargo in 2025, a dramatic jump from 74,380 tons the year before. This growth is mainly from container traffic. However, Lamu's potential as a regional hub depends on infrastructure to connect it to inland areas, such as the planned LAPSSET transport corridor linking Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.Rail links boost exports from Uganda
By the end of July 2026, 29 containers of Ugandan coffee were transported by rail from Kampala to Mombasa for export. This marked the first time in eight years that Ugandan coffee was exported by rail. The route offers new market access, though the journey involves long distances and border crossings.AfCFTA faces challenges beyond tariffs
The African Continental Free Trade Area aims to boost intracontinental trade, but reducing tariffs is not enough. The World Bank notes that trade between African countries remains a small share of the continent's total trade. However, it is more diverse and includes more manufactured goods than trade with the rest of the world.New industrial zone planned near Mombasa
On September 8, 2026, DP World and GulfCap Africa signed a deal to develop a 216-hectare special economic zone near Mombasa. The project, expected to cost over 12 billion Kenyan shillings, aims to bring industrial and logistics activities closer to the port.Border delays slow trade progress
In the first quarter of 2026, it took 68 hours on average to move cargo from Mombasa to Malaba, the main border post with Uganda, down from 102 hours a year earlier. However, this is still above the 55-hour target. The Malaba border remains a bottleneck, with long delays and inefficient systems affecting trade.High costs of African trade
The World Bank estimates that 60 percent of Africa's commercial costs come from customs delays, poor logistics, transport issues, and outdated systems. These challenges often occur within countries, not just at borders. The success of the AfCFTA will depend on improving these internal systems, not just reducing tariffs. Future progress will be measured by transit times, border efficiency, and trade volumes moving across the continent.
