Mogadishu Port Launches Transshipment Services As Cargo Volumes Hit Record High

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Mogadishu Port has begun transshipment operations for the first time, marking a major shift in Somalia’s maritime role as cargo volumes reached record levels in January, port officials said.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has launched a direct service linking Colombo, Sri Lanka, with Mogadishu, elevating the port from an end-point for imports to a regional transit hub. The move places Somalia more firmly on key Indian Ocean trade routes.

The new service was inaugurated with the arrival of the MSC Silver II, which discharged transshipment cargo that was then loaded onto the MSC Malin II, formally commencing transit operations at the port, the Mogadishu Port Authority (MPA) said.

MPA data showed that January 2026 was the busiest month in the port’s history, with 21,650 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled and 16 container vessels serviced. Officials said the figures reflect growing confidence among international shipping lines in the port’s security and operational performance.

Port authorities attributed the surge to management reforms and improved operational efficiency, including faster cargo handling and reduced vessel turnaround times. They said the port is now capable of handling complex transshipment operations alongside high cargo volumes.

For Somalia’s federal government, the development is expected to boost revenues and attract investment by expanding income beyond traditional import duties. Officials said the port’s growing role as a logistics hub could support economic recovery and strengthen Somalia’s position in East African and regional trade.