Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed plans to strengthen its presence in East Africa by making Mombasa the central hub for its operations in the region. The decision comes after recent discussions with officials from the Kenya Ports Authority, expanding the carrier’s existing routes that connect Asia to East Africa through Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. These talks also explored ways to enhance infrastructure collaboration across Kenya’s port network.
Leading the negotiations were Altamush Ahmed, the Area East Africa Managing Director, and Dirk Van Niekerk, Operator Director at Hanseatic Global Terminal. Their discussions covered port expansion initiatives, the development of Special Economic Zones, and opportunities at the Port of Lamu. This follows a September 2026 agreement between Hapag-Lloyd and DP World to secure long-term terminal capacity at key African ports, including Dakar, Luanda, Dar es Salaam, Banana, and Maputo.
The shipping company expects its African transport volumes to surpass 1 million TEU by 2026, reflecting strong growth in the region. The company reported transport volumes of 3.5 million TEU in the second quarter of 2026, with revenue of US$5.7 billion in its Liner Shipping segment and an EBIT margin of 10.0%. These routing decisions play a critical role in determining which ports serve as transit points for landlocked nations such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DRC, and South Sudan, where Mombasa and Dar es Salaam are key competitors.
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Lamu’s significance as Kenya’s second commercial seaport continues to rise, with nearly 800,000 metric tonnes of cargo handled in 2025. In September 2026, the vessel MV Hamouna unloaded 5,200 TEUs in a single call, marking the largest volume processed at any Kenyan port to date. The planned Dangote East Africa Refinery at Lamu, a Sh2.2 trillion (US$17 billion) project designed to process 700,000 barrels per day, is expected to generate substantial cargo volumes once operational. Additionally, Kenya plans to add 21 new berths by 2030 through public-private partnerships, reinforcing its port capacity.
The development of Special Economic Zones along the Mombasa corridor presents further opportunities. One such project is a 222-hectare DP World-GulfCap logistics hub in Jomvu, designed to connect ports with inland manufacturing and distribution networks. Hapag-Lloyd’s involvement supports Kenya’s broader strategy to enhance port partnerships and establish itself as a leading trade hub in East Africa.