List of ports in Mozambique Key Locations and Information

Mozambique's coastline offers a diverse range of ports, each with its own unique characteristics and advantages.

The Port of Maputo is the country's largest port, handling over 80% of the country's cargo traffic. Located in the capital city, it's a major hub for trade and commerce.

The Port of Nacala is a significant port in northern Mozambique, known for its deepwater harbor and extensive rail and road connections. This makes it an important gateway for exports to neighboring countries.

Mozambique's ports play a crucial role in the country's economy, facilitating trade and commerce with the rest of the world.

Mozambique has a total of 12 ports and harbors, with the Port of Maputo being the largest and most developed.

The Port of Maputo is a large-sized port located on the shores of Maputo Bay, handling diverse cargo types such as citrus fruits, steel, grains, sugar, asbestos, coal, ferroalloys, container goods, and other breakbulk.

Maputo serves the southern hinterland, province of Gaza, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and the Transvaal region of South Africa.

The Port of Maputo has a total of 16 liner berths with a total berth length of 4000 m, and two access channels in the north and south leading into Maputo harbour.

The Port of Beira is Mozambique's second-largest port, located 20 kilometers from the open sea and 1,200 kilometers north of Maputo.

Beira is a crucial centre of trade and transportation due to its strategic position on Mozambique's eastern coastline, connected with roads and railways.

The Port of Beira exports tobacco, ores, animal hides, foodstuff, and imports wheat, fertilisers, textiles, heavy equipment, and beverages.

Here's a list of the major ports in Mozambique:

Each port has its unique characteristics, such as the Port of Nacala, which is the deepest port in Southern Africa, and the Port of Quelimane, which is a medium-sized port handling exports of Copra, sisal, tea, edible oil, timber, coconut, cotton, cashew nuts, and receiving shipments of fuels, lubricating oil, cement, manufactured goods, machinery, and motor vehicles.

The Port of Maputo achieved a new record in 2021, registering a 21 per cent growth compared to 2020, with a total volume of cargo handled in 2021 standing at 22.2 million tonnes versus the 18.3 million tonnes of the previous year.

The Port of Beira handled 2.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2019, recording a commendable 46% growth for 2020, and its container terminal recorded a 1.7% decline in 2020, handling 255,459 TEU, compared to 259,938 TEU handled in the previous year.

Related reading: List of Busiest Ports by Cargo Tonnage

Nacala is a significant port in northern Mozambique, boasting the finest deepwater harbour in South Africa. It's located at the southern tip of the Baia de Bengo.

Nacala handles the majority of the international trade of landlocked Malawi, with over 200 ships visiting annually. This port has been operational since 1951, developed after the second world war to serve the hinterland.

The port has facilities for dealing with diverse cargo such as coal, cotton, tea, tobacco, groundnuts, sisal, timber, maize, and animal hides. It's a large and well-sheltered port with an 800 m wide and 60 m deep access channel.

The General Cargo Terminal at Nacala comprises a 675 m long dock divided into 4 berths with alongside depths of 9.5 m. It's equipped with shoreside cranes, forklifts, reach stackers, and mobile cranes for port operations.

The terminal also incorporates 8 warehouses covering 21,000m2, providing ample storage space. Bunkering services are also provided at the general cargo berths.

The Container Terminal at Nacala has two docks measuring 375 m, equipped with forklifts, top-loaders, and reach stackers for moving containers. It has an annual handling capacity of 100,000 TEU and enough storage for accommodating 6000 TEU.

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