Lamu Port Surpasses 2025 Benchmark in Six Months

Official operational data from the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority shows cargo processing output surging by 112 percent in six months. The facility eclipsed its full-year performance benchmark for 2025 by June 2026.

Commercial shipping lines increased direct vessel calls to the deep-water facility in early 2026, when terminal operators expanded night navigation options. Improved transshipment handling protocols helped maintain smooth container flow across active berths without creating backlogs.

Cargo throughput grew past 799,000 metric tonnes as transshipment volume expanded across regional sea trade corridors. Commercial vessel calls rose sharply, which allowed terminal operators to process larger container ships without experiencing scheduling delays at quay cranes.

Engineers completed initial dredging work on the primary access channel to maintain a depth of 17.5 metres. The depth allows post-Suezmax vessels to dock safely, even when marine weather conditions become challenging along the northern coastline.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) deployed specialized container handling equipment to support heavy freight movements on the quay. Port workers organized berth schedules into round-the-clock shifts, which reduced overall ship turnaround times significantly for ocean liners.

Truck fleets transporting goods along the tarmacked Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo highway network moved high volumes of transit cargo northward. Logistics operators cleared import shipments directly from quay yards, but customs documentation procedures required occasional manual verification by officials.

A government directive issued under President Ruto prioritized security along key road connections serving northern trade routes. Joint security teams established permanent checkpoints, which helped protect commercial freight trucks traveling toward inland border entry points.

Investors in the adjacent Special Economic Zone (SEZ) started civil works on warehouse facilities and light industrial assembly plants. Low corporate tax incentives framed under national investment policies attracted private regional logistics firms seeking coastal positions.

Port officials recorded higher transshipment activity bound for smaller ports along the East African coastline during May and June. Feeder vessels moved containerized cargo from main docks, which kept storage yards clear during peak vessel arrival windows.

Construction teams continue civil works on additional yard space to expand container holding capacity beyond current operational limits. Site managers oversaw ground preparation for new berths, although heavy coastal rains slowed foundational piling operations briefly last month.

Regional trade delegates visited the terminal complex to evaluate connectivity options linking Kenya with landlocked neighbors. Commercial agencies noted that direct sea access reduces total transit times for heavy equipment, when road networks remain open and operational.

Terminal supervisors automated gate systems to accelerate truck entry times and lower congestion near port entrance barriers. Gate processing times dropped, which allowed regional hauliers to complete multiple cargo trips in a single working day.

The administration plans to issue tender documents for private terminal concessions under public-private partnership models later this year. Government ministers expect private terminal operators to fund additional gantry cranes, if trade volumes maintain current growth trajectories.

Port management confirmed that scheduled vessel calls will remain steady through the third quarter. Harbor pilots stand ready to handle daily vessel arrivals, while marine teams maintain equipment readiness across all operational berths at the facility.

Logistics companies continue building off-dock freight stations near the port perimeter to handle excess container storage demand. Project engineers expect further infrastructure upgrades to keep pace with rising commercial shipping needs along the coastal corridor over coming months.