Mozambique - Port of Maputo

Port of Maputo: Mozambique's Economic Gateway

The Port of Maputo, also known as the Maputo-Matola port complex, stands as a cornerstone of Mozambique's economy and a vital trade hub for Southern Africa. Strategically located and undergoing significant expansion, the port facilitates regional commerce, connecting landlocked countries to global markets. This article explores the port's location, key figures, and operational details, highlighting its economic significance.

Location

The Port of Maputo is situated in the cities of Maputo and Matola, positioned on the north bank of the Espírito Santo Estuary in Maputo Bay, southern Mozambique. Specifically located at approximately 25°58′S latitude and 32°34′E longitude, the port is separated from the Mozambique Channel by the islands of Inhaca and Portugueses, as well as the Machangulo peninsula. Its proximity to South Africa—just 120 km from the border—and Eswatini (80 km) makes it a critical gateway for regional trade.

The port serves as the nearest deepwater port to Johannesburg, South Africa's economic hub, linking it to key markets in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Eswatini via extensive road and rail networks, including the Ressano Garcia, Goba, and Limpopo railway lines, along with the N1 highway.

Maputo Bay's natural harbor, first explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498, provides a sheltered environment for maritime activities. The port's access channel, known as the North Channel, has been deepened to 14.2 meters, allowing larger vessels with drafts up to 14 meters and capacities of 120,000 deadweight tons to navigate, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.

Figures and Details

Historical Performance and Recovery

The Port of Maputo has a rich history marked by resilience and recovery. In 1972, it handled an annual cargo volume of 17 million tons; however, the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992) drastically reduced throughput to just 1 million tons by 1988. Recovery efforts began post-war, particularly with the formation of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) in 2003—established as a public-private partnership involving Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM), Dubai-based DP World, and South Africa's Grindrod Ltd.

From handling 4.5 million tons in 2003, cargo volumes climbed to 14 million tons by 2012 and reached an impressive 30.9 million tons in 2024, despite a slight 1% decline from 2023 due to various operational challenges.

Infrastructure and Capacity

The port consists of two main operational areas: the Maputo Cargo Terminals and the Matola Bulk Terminals, featuring 16 linear berths that total approximately 4,000 meters. The cargo terminals manage the handling of citrus, sugar, containers, and general cargo, while Matola's deepwater berths are dedicated to bulk minerals, petroleum, aluminum, and grain.

The container terminal spans seven hectares and currently has a capacity of 255,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, with plans to expand to 530,000 TEUs by 2027. This expansion follows a $164 million investment as the first phase of a broader $2 billion enhancement project, which includes extending the quay by 400 meters to a total of 650 meters and deepening the berth draft to 16 meters to accommodate even larger vessels.

Recent infrastructure improvements include the dredging of the 76-km access channel to 14.2 meters, which was completed in 2017, as well as deepening the Matola Coal Terminal berth to 15.4 meters, enabling the operation of fully laden Panamax vessels. The port functions 24/7, utilizing compulsory pilotage and tug services for most vessels. Moreover, it features a small drydock (80m x 12m) and offers mobile welding, repair, and diver services.

Economic Impact

The Port of Maputo is Mozambique's largest port and the second-largest on Africa's east coast, handling more than 80% of the country's cargo as transit for neighboring nations. It is a critical component of the Maputo, Limpopo, and Libombo trade corridors, enabling exports such as cotton, sugar, chromite, sisal, copra, and hardwood. This infrastructure further supports local industries, including cement, pottery, and furniture manufacturing in the Maputo area. Notably, in 2019, Total S.A. and Gigajoule signed an agreement to import liquefied natural gas at Matola harbor, thereby bolstering energy-related trade.

The port's economic impact extends beyond cargo handling. In 2024, MPDC reported substantial growth in direct operations, contributing to community initiatives, such as donating materials for open-heart surgeries at Maputo Central Hospital. However, the port's global performance ranking fell from 248th in 2022 to 317th in 2023 on the World Bank Container Port Performance Index, reflecting challenges such as regional competition and recent unrest in Mozambique, which particularly affected trade with South Africa regarding chrome exports.

Recent Developments

In January 2025, the port launched the first phase of its ambitious $2 billion expansion, supported by a $165 million investment from DP World. This project seeks to position Maputo as a major regional shipping hub, taking advantage of existing bottlenecks at South African ports. Infrastructure enhancements, including the introduction of two Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbor cranes delivered in 2017, have significantly improved cargo handling efficiency. Additionally, a strategic agreement with Maputo Grain Terminal SA (MGT) and MEREC Industries aims to expand the grain terminal's capacity, with its five 5,000-ton silos currently handling around 200,000 tons annually.

Conclusion

The Port of Maputo is a linchpin of Mozambique's economy, driving regional trade and economic recovery. Its strategic location, ongoing infrastructure investments, and connectivity to Southern African markets underscore its role as a vital gateway. Despite challenges such as regional unrest and declines in global rankings, the port's significant expansion and modernization efforts signal a promising future for Mozambique, reaffirming its status as a key player in East African logistics and economic growth.