(JUBA) – Congestion at the Port of Mombasa is creating growing challenges for regional trade, with direct implications for South Sudan businesses that rely heavily on the Kenyan port for imports. A rising backlog of empty containers is blocking the smooth handling of containerised cargo, pushing up freight costs and slowing supply chains across East Africa.
The container crisis has been driven by several factors, including a sharp increase in cargo volumes, delays by shipping lines in collecting empty containers, and a long standing trade imbalance where imports into Mombasa exceed exports. These pressures have stretched the port’s capacity and led to a build up of empty containers at terminals and inland depots.
Traders operating through Mombasa report that freight charges have increased as a result of limited container depots and slow collection of empties by shipping lines. For South Sudan, which depends on Mombasa as its main maritime gateway, these inefficiencies translate into higher landing costs for food, fuel, construction materials, and consumer goods.
Data from the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association shows that more than 600 trucks are parked around the port each day, with others waiting at various container depots to offload empty units. This congestion has increased the cost of moving goods by more than 40 percent, according to industry estimates. Such cost increases are often passed on to importers and, eventually, to consumers in inland markets including Juba.
The congestion has reduced the efficiency of regional trade through Mombasa, which serves landlocked countries such as South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any slowdown at the port affects delivery timelines and working capital for businesses operating far from the coast.
The national chairman of the freight association, Fredrick Aloo, said that freight rates, fuel costs, and container handling charges have all risen over the past three months. He warned that traders are being penalised for problems beyond their control, placing an unsustainable financial burden on businesses and weakening the competitiveness of the port.
He added that charging demurrage in the current situation amounts to collecting fees for a service that is not being delivered, since containers remain stuck in the supply chain through no fault of cargo owners. He also said that some designated depots are not able to receive empty containers, preventing traders from meeting return requirements set by shipping lines.
Clearing and forwarding agents say the continued enforcement of detention charges has caused financial strain, disrupted inland cargo movement, and raised logistics costs across the region. For South Sudan importers, this has increased the cost of basic goods and slowed the flow of supplies into the country.
Traders are now calling for a temporary suspension of demurrage and detention charges. They are also asking for clearer communication on container return procedures so freight forwarders are informed about depot availability and acceptable return times. Industry groups have proposed the creation of temporary empty container reception areas or a staggered return system to ease congestion.
The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa has also raised concerns, noting that operational constraints at container depots are forcing trucks to queue for several days before offloading empties. This has reduced truck turnaround times and added to congestion at both the port and container freight stations.
According to the council’s chief executive, the delays are disrupting transport operations and reducing overall supply chain efficiency. He urged port authorities, shipping agencies, and shipping lines to act urgently to prioritise the evacuation of empty containers and to allow vessels additional time at berth to load them.
Shipping agents have warned that delays in ship turnaround are costly. Industry estimates indicate that holding a vessel for 24 hours costs about 38,000 US dollars, which is roughly 269.8 million South Sudan pounds at current market rates. These costs increase pressure on shipping lines and contribute to higher freight rates for regional importers.
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vessel delay per 24 hours | 38,000 USD |
| Equivalent in SSP | 269,800,000 SSP |
Since September 2025, even before Tanzania’s general election, many traders shifted their port preference from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa. This shift followed disruptions linked to political unrest in Tanzania, leading to a surge in vessels calling at Mombasa and adding to congestion.
Shipping lines have also pointed to operational decisions by port authorities, including instructions that allow vessels to leave before all loading and unloading is completed due to schedule pressure. These practices, combined with high cargo volumes, have added to the backlog of empty containers.
For South Sudan, where most imports move through Mombasa before being transported inland by road, prolonged congestion poses a risk to price stability and business planning. Traders and logistics firms say that unless the container backlog is resolved, higher costs and delays are likely to persist, affecting trade flows into the country and the wider region.
