Dar es Salaam’s New Logistics Hub Looks Inland
Tanzania’s government greenlit plans for a new logistics hub in Dar es Salaam, designed with one eye firmly fixed on its landlocked neighbors. Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, and the DRC stand to gain from smoother customs processes and reduced turnaround times. For traders tired of the long delays on corridors, this is more than an infrastructure project — it’s a promise of time saved, fuel conserved, and goods reaching markets in fresher shape.
It’s also a gentle reminder that regional logistics doesn’t stop at national borders. A container cleared faster in Dar could mean tomatoes ripening on shelves in Kigali or copper reaching ports in record time.
Nairobi Hosts Air Cargo & Transport Logistics Africa Conference
In mid-February, Nairobi played host to Air Cargo Africa & Transport Logistics Africa 2025. Thousands of delegates descended on the city, buzzing about Africa’s growing slice of the global air freight market. The big theme? Opportunity.
With AfCFTA driving up intra-African trade volumes, the conference was less about what’s possible and more about what’s already happening. Kenya’s aviation sector took center stage, with industry voices calling for smarter cargo handling, digitalized customs, and an eye on sustainability.
For Nairobi, the expo was both a showcase and a signal: East Africa isn’t just participating in global trade; it’s helping to shape it.
Exporters Grapple with Longer Shipping Times to Europe
At the Berlin Fruit Logistica expo, Kenyan exporters raised a familiar but urgent concern — the trip to Europe is getting longer. What once took 30–35 days now often takes more than 50, thanks to Red Sea insecurity and rerouting around the Suez Canal.
That’s bad news for fresh produce. But the conversation wasn’t all gloom. Exporters emphasized resilience, pooling efforts with government agencies and logistics firms to ensure that Kenyan avocados, beans, and roses still arrive crisp and competitive. The spirit was clear: logistics challenges may be global, but solutions are being forged locally.
