Andre Klynsmith

Ports and Terminals

Record Volumes, $600m Coming: Why Maputo Is Scaling Up as SADC's Congestion-Relief Gateway

The Port of Maputo moved a record 32 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, and in July 2026 the Mozambican government approved an expansion programme that will see roughly US$600 million ploughed into the port over the next three years — a direct bid to absorb more of the freight that South Africa's congested terminals keep pushing eastward.

Ports and Terminals

31 July 2026 • 4 min read

Maputo is no longer just Gauteng's back door. A record cargo year, rising rail volumes and a freshly approved half-billion-dollar investment plan are turning the Mozambican port into a serious, scalable alternative for hauliers routing bulk and break-bulk out of the Highveld.

A record year, built on rail

Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) reported 32 million tonnes handled in 2025, up about 3.4% on the previous year and the highest total in the port's history. Much of that growth came off the rail line: freight railed into Maputo climbed to roughly 11.7 million tonnes from 9.7 million a year earlier, as the corridor from the South African border moved more chrome, magnetite, coal and containers.

A meaningful share of that volume is cargo that would once have sailed from Durban or Richards Bay. Persistent congestion and equipment constraints at South African terminals have quietly rewired export routing for Highveld shippers, and Maputo — barely 90 kilometres from the border at Ressano Garcia and closer to Gauteng than any South African port — has been the main beneficiary.

What the US$600m buys

In July 2026 the government approved a 2026–2030 integrated investment programme and a set of measures to expand the port's capacity. The concessionaire has committed to invest around US$600 million in infrastructure over the first three years. The bulk terminal is being lifted toward 16 million tonnes, and capacity work at the Grindrod magnetite and coal terminal is set to raise annual throughput to 12 million tonnes, up from 8 million.

For a port that already runs close to its design limits in peak season, added berth, terminal and dredging capacity matters more than headlines suggest. Extra depth and handling capacity mean bigger vessels, faster rotations and less risk that a good harvest or a strong mining quarter simply queues offshore.

Why SADC hauliers should watch closely

Maputo's pull reaches well beyond Mozambique. Exporters in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Eswatini and southern Zimbabwe increasingly weigh it against South African ports on total transit cost, not distance alone. The catch is that a port is only as good as the road and rail feeding it: the N4/Ressano Garcia border, truck staging and rail slot availability decide whether the port's gains reach your load.

Capacity that arrives over 2026–2030 is a plan-around, not an overnight switch. But the direction is clear: a second credible gateway on the eastern seaboard gives shippers leverage and a genuine plan B when the primary route seizes up.

About the Author
	Andre Klynsmith Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Andre's expertise spans technology, blockchain, transport, and logistics — with a passion for innovation and driving positive change across industries. info@laaimylorrie.com | laaimylorrie.com