By Ajong Mbapndah L
Mozambique’s ambitions to become a leading maritime and logistics hub in Southern Africa have received a major boost with the launch of a US$150 million dredging project at the Port of Maputo, backed by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) and its partner, global logistics giant DP World.
The investment, formally launched on October 12, 2026, at a ceremony attended by Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo and Minister of Transport and Logistics João Jorge Matlombe, marks another milestone in the modernization of one of Southern Africa’s most important maritime gateways. The project will deepen and widen the port’s access channel, allowing larger vessels to dock while improving shipping efficiency and strengthening Mozambique’s competitiveness in regional and international trade.
Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director for Africa at DP World, welcomed the development, describing it as an important milestone in the company’s partnership with MPDC and its commitment to expanding trade opportunities across the region.
“Together with DP World’s increased investments in the development of the container terminal at the Port of Maputo, this project is designed to strengthen the port’s competitiveness and expand Southern Africa’s access to international markets,” Akoojee stated in a message shared on LinkedIn.
The announcement comes as African countries intensify efforts to modernize transport infrastructure, reduce logistics costs and improve connectivity between production centers, regional markets and global shipping networks.
$150 Million Investment to Accommodate Larger Vessels
The capital dredging project will deepen the Port of Maputo’s access channel to 15.3 metres and widen its straight sections from 110 metres to 210 metres, enabling the port to accommodate vessels measuring up to 366 metres in length.
The ambitious engineering operation, expected to take approximately 12 months, will involve the removal of an estimated 21.2 million cubic metres of material using seven specialized vessels.
Once completed, the improvements are expected to enhance maritime access, reduce navigational constraints and strengthen the port’s ability to handle larger commercial vessels serving regional and international markets.
For Mozambique, the investment carries significance beyond the port itself. Maputo occupies a strategic position along the southern African coastline, providing access to important industrial, agricultural and mining markets in neighboring countries, particularly South Africa and Eswatini.
The port also serves as an important outlet for cargo moving through regional transport corridors, making its continued development central to Southern Africa’s broader economic integration and trade expansion.
By improving access for larger ships, the project could help shipping companies achieve greater economies of scale while providing regional exporters with more competitive options for reaching international markets.
The dredging initiative is also part of a wider modernization program under MPDC, whose concession to develop and operate the Port of Maputo has been extended to 2058, providing a longer investment horizon for the continued expansion of the facility.
DP World Deepens Investments in Mozambique’s Logistics Future
For DP World, the dredging initiative complements substantial investments in the development of the Port of Maputo’s container terminal, reinforcing the company’s growing role in Mozambique’s maritime and logistics sector.
The container terminal expansion is targeting an annual handling capacity of approximately 650,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a development expected to improve cargo-handling capabilities and support growing trade volumes.
Alongside these improvements, the Matola coal terminal is targeting a capacity of 12 million tonnes, further strengthening the port complex’s ability to serve the region’s mining and bulk commodity industries.
Together, these investments are expected to improve operational efficiency, attract additional shipping services and strengthen Maputo’s competitiveness against other regional maritime gateways.
Akoojee emphasized the commercial opportunities that improved infrastructure could generate, noting that the investment would enable the port to serve larger vessels, connect Mozambique and neighboring markets more efficiently to continental and global trade, and create new opportunities for businesses across the region.
“We congratulate the MPDC for delivering this achievement and we thank Minister João Jorge Matlombe for his support in advancing this important project,” Akoojee said.
DP World’s involvement reflects the growing importance of integrated logistics solutions in Africa, where investment in ports is increasingly linked to inland transport corridors, industrial development and cross-border trade.
The Dubai-headquartered company operates an extensive international network of ports, terminals and logistics services, with a growing African footprint supporting trade, investment and supply-chain connectivity.
Its continued investments in Mozambique reinforce Maputo’s importance within that network and the company’s confidence in the country’s long-term commercial potential.
Southern Africa Poised to Benefit from Improved Trade Connectivity
The Port of Maputo’s expansion carries important implications for businesses operating across Southern Africa, particularly exporters and importers seeking efficient and competitive routes to international markets.
South Africa’s industrial heartland, including Gauteng and Mpumalanga, is connected to Mozambique through established transport corridors, while Eswatini and other neighboring economies also stand to benefit from improved maritime access and cargo-handling capacity.
For mining companies, agricultural exporters, manufacturers and logistics operators, improvements in port efficiency could contribute to reduced transportation bottlenecks, more reliable supply chains and stronger access to international buyers.
The project is also expected to reinforce the Maputo Development Corridor, a major regional trade route linking South Africa’s economic centers with Mozambique’s coastline.
The corridor has long played an important role in facilitating the movement of goods between the two countries, and improvements at the port could increase its attractiveness to businesses seeking alternative export and import routes.
Beyond Mozambique and South Africa, the investment has wider relevance for regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to expand trade among African economies and create a more integrated continental market.
While trade agreements can open commercial opportunities, their success depends heavily on efficient infrastructure, reliable transport networks and competitive logistics services.
The Maputo investment addresses an important part of that challenge by strengthening the maritime infrastructure needed to move goods between African markets and international trading partners.
President Chapo’s Government Pushes Infrastructure Development
The presence of President Daniel Chapo at the launch underscored the importance Mozambique attaches to modernizing its transport infrastructure and positioning the country as a competitive destination for investment and international trade.
Mozambique possesses significant natural resources, agricultural potential and a strategic coastline along the Indian Ocean. Its ports provide access to international shipping routes while serving neighboring economies that depend on efficient transport connections for their commercial activities.
However, realizing the full economic potential of these advantages requires sustained investment in infrastructure, institutional efficiency and partnerships capable of mobilizing long-term capital.
The Maputo dredging project represents an important example of collaboration between government authorities and private-sector operators in developing infrastructure critical to national and regional economic growth.
For the Chapo administration, the project also provides an opportunity to strengthen investor confidence, support industrial development and expand Mozambique’s participation in regional and international supply chains.
The benefits could extend beyond maritime operations, creating opportunities for freight forwarders, transport companies, warehousing operators and businesses providing services to the logistics sector.
The combination of deeper maritime access, expanded terminal capacity and improved regional connectivity could also help Mozambique attract additional commercial activity and investment in industries dependent on reliable export infrastructure.
Maputo Positions Itself Among Africa’s Competitive Maritime Gateways
Competition among African ports continues to intensify as governments and private operators invest in deeper channels, modern terminals, digital cargo systems and improved inland transport connections.
For shipping companies and international traders, the ability of a port to accommodate larger vessels, handle cargo efficiently and connect with major economic centers remains a decisive consideration.
Maputo’s US$150 million dredging project, together with ongoing investments in container handling and bulk cargo facilities, strengthens Mozambique’s prospects of securing a larger share of regional maritime trade.
The planned channel improvements will also complement the port’s longer-term expansion ambitions, giving operators greater flexibility to respond to changing vessel sizes and commercial demands.
For DP World, the development further consolidates its relationship with MPDC and reinforces its broader commitment to improving Africa’s connectivity with global markets.
Akoojee expressed confidence in the future of the partnership and the commercial opportunities that improved infrastructure could unlock.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting a more connected, competitive trade network that unlocks increased trade opportunities for our customers in Mozambique and Southern Africa,” he said.
With dredging scheduled to progress over the coming year and further terminal investments advancing, the Port of Maputo is entering another important phase of its development.
For Mozambique, the stakes are considerable. A more competitive Maputo Port could attract additional shipping traffic, facilitate greater cargo volumes, strengthen regional trade corridors and generate new investment opportunities across the economy.
For DP World and MPDC, the US$150 million investment represents another major commitment to the future of a port whose strategic importance extends well beyond Mozambique’s borders.
As Southern Africa seeks more efficient routes to international markets, Maputo is positioning itself to play an increasingly influential role in the movement of goods, investment and commerce across the region.