portsMaputo

Porto de Maputo, or Port of Maputo, is Mozambique’s principal seaport and a key logistics hub for southern Africa. Situated on the western shore of Maputo Bay near the capital city Maputo, the port serves as the main entry point for imports and a major export outlet for Mozambique’s economy and for landlocked neighbors along the Maputo Development Corridor. The harbor handles a mix of bulk, break-bulk, and containerized cargo.

Facilities include container terminals, bulk cargo facilities, a multipurpose terminal, and storage and handling yards. The port hosts cranes and other handling equipment to support containers, coal, cement, sugar, fertilizer, and general cargo. The operation is organized as a public-private partnership: a port authority sets safety and regulatory standards, while private concessionaires manage day-to-day terminal operations, including the container terminal.

Maputo is linked to the inland economy by rail and road. The port sits on the Maputo Development Corridor, providing rail access northward toward South Africa’s Gauteng region and connections to highways serving the hinterland. Intermodal links enable transfers between ships, trucks, and trains, supporting regional trade.

Economic significance: As Mozambique’s largest port, Maputo handles a substantial portion of the country’s imports and exports and plays a strategic role in regional trade, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing supply chains.

The port has undergone modernization and expansion programs to improve berthing capacity, dredging, and terminal efficiency, with ongoing efforts to accommodate larger vessels and growing traffic.