By Martin MwitaUGANDA has maintained its position as the leading East African Community destination for transit cargo through the port of Mombasa.
According to the Kenya Ports Authority , Uganda cargo handled at the port in the last ten months grew by 9.1 per cent registering 4.5 million tonnes up from 4.1 million tonnes in 2013.
This comes as KPA recorded a 5.3 per cent growth on transit traffic between January and October this year, registering 5.9 million tonnes up from 5.6 million tonnes handled in 2013.
Increased volumes in transit cargo have seen Uganda control about 74 per cent of market share, with motor vehicle units being among the top transit cargo.
Other major imports by Uganda through Mombasa include containerised goods, clinker, steel products and machinery for oil business in western Uganda.
In statistics released by the authority's managing director Gichiri Ndua on Friday, Rwanda also recorded an 11 per cent growth to realise 198,000 tonnes up from 178,000 tonnes handled over the same period last year.
"Uganda our biggest transit market has continued to increase its usage of the port as we continue to improve efficiency at the port of Mombasa," said Ndua.
Burindi recorded a modest growth of 13.6 per cent from 45,000 tonnes last year to 51,000 tonnes.
Sudan remains the second largest transit market despite a two per cent drop cargo handled in what KPAattributed to political instability. Transit cargo to DRC declined by 21.7 per cent but remains third as a major transit market.
Ndua was speaking during the annual KPA stakeholders dinner in Mombasa presided over by transport PS Nduva Muli.
He said the port of Mombasa has also attracted trans-shipment business since the commissioning of berth 19.
According to the authority, trans-shipment traffic recorded a robust performance by posting 492,000 tonnes of cargo in the first ten months of this year, against 130,000 tonnes in a similar period in 2013, an increase of 363,000 tonnes reflecting a 279.7 per cent increase.
"Trans-shipment traffic is a key segment of cargo traffic that any port would strive to capture and I am glad we in Mombasa have made efforts to attract this business," said Ndua.
KPA has also recorded a reduced dwell time of 3.7 days this year down from 5.8 days in 2013, time cargo takes from the time it arrives in the port to its exit. Truck transit time has also reduced from an average of seven days to four days
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