Mombasa port [Photo/Business Daily]
Kenya's Mombasa port recorded a 10.6 percent increase in cargo for the first time since nine months up until September.
According to the port's management the increase is a result of the expansion of it handling capacity along with a new railway system.
The Mombasa port handles traffic from Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite the prolonged electoral period and political uncertainty the port managed to continue with business as usual.
Port managing director Catherine Mturi says Mombasa handled 22.8 million tonnes of cargo between January and September up from 20.6 million the previous year
Imports accounted for 19.3 million tonnes which was a 10.4 per cent increase from 17.4 million the previous year.
Transit traffic increased by 8.5 per cent to 6.5 million tonnes from 5.9 million.
According to reports, Uganda still remains the biggest transit market after accounting for 81 per cent of all transit cargo.
This follows the commission of a a second $300 million container terminal that provides an additional cargo-handling capacity of 550,000 TEUs per year.