JACK ZIMBA
Lusaka
IN ITS quest to boost intra-Africa trade, and to create strong trade corridors within the continent, DP World has signed a deal with two global metal giants – China Metal Storage and Transport Company (CMST) and Henry Bath & Sons Limited.
DP World in 2023 signed a 30-year concession deal with the Tanzanian government to operate and modernise the Dar es Salaam Port. In a statement, Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) director general Plasduce Mbosa said the deal will turn Tanzania into Africa’s metals warehousing hub.
“The new MoU between DP World, CMST and Henry Bath isn’t about cargo alone – it’s about turning Tanzania into Africa’s metals warehousing hub.
That means storing, trading and financing; copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals right here on Tanzanian soil. It’s a move that could position Dar as a command post in the global energy transition.
As demand for green minerals grows, Tanzania is no longer just a corridor – it is providing critical infrastructure for the flow of East and Central African cargo,” he said.
China Metal Storage and Transport Company and Henry Bath & Sons Ltd both manage hundreds of billions of dollars in commodities annually.
Mr Mbosa said the decision by the two trading giants to partner with Dar es Salaam Port emphasises the confidence they have in the port, something he attributes to deliberate reforms by the Tanzanian government and the ports authority.
“This shift didn’t happen by chance. It came from deliberate, difficult reforms. The Tanzania Ports Authority, backed by the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, made bold choices – bringing in a global operator to manage port terminals, implementing the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, rolling out the Tanzania Electronic Single Window System and Tanzania Revenue Authority upgrading to generation five the Tanzania Customs Integrated System.
These decisions weren’t always popular, but they delivered desired results,” he said. He added:
“Under the capable leadership of Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania is reinvigorating its role in the global economy by strengthening trade infrastructure and improving port performance. We are proud that TPA through Dar es Salaam Port is playing a growing role in shaping the future of trade – not just for Tanzania, but for Africa and the world. We look forward to continued collaboration with DP World and all our partners in creating stronger trade corridors and a more connected global economy.”
He said because of the reforms, container vessel waiting time — once up to 30 days — has dropped to near zero, while turnaround time has fallen from 10 days to just 36-48 hours.
“Copper and sulfur cargo from Zambia and the DRC now flow through Dar with fewer delays and lower costs. Agricultural exports – from coffee to cotton, sesame to sunflower – reach global markets faster. Importers of fertiliser, fuel, machinery and medical supplies are seeing real savings fuelling economic growth. This isn’t theoretical efficiency. It is money saved, deals kept, markets expanded,” Mr Mbosa said.
He said what is unfolding at the port of Dar es Salaam is bigger than ships and cranes.
“It’s a signal that Tanzania is stepping forward as a logistics leader in Africa. With vision, coordination and commitment, Dar’s quiet revolution could become the loudest success story in the continent’s trade transformation,” he said.
