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Dar es Salaam to Zambia: port, TAZARA and road charges

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Corridors

Zambian cargo lands at Dar es Salaam and moves inland by road or on the 1,860 km TAZARA railway 3,4. Zambia-bound transit cargo through Dar es Salaam was 3.41 million tonnes in 2025/26, as reported by Citizen Digital 5. A transit full container pays US$90 wharfage for up to 20 feet at Dar es Salaam and gets 15 free storage days 1. Tanzania charges transit trucks with more than three axles US$10 per 100 km 6.
Zambia transit cargo through Dar es Salaam, 2025/26
3.41 million tonnes, as reported by Citizen Digital 5
TAZARA railway length
1,860 km, 1,067 mm gauge 3
TAZARA ownership
Governments of Tanzania and Zambia in equal shares 4
TAZARA freight volume
100,000 tonnes a year, target 2.4 million tonnes 3
Wharfage, transit full container imports, Dar es Salaam
US$90 up to 20 ft, US$180 over 20 ft 1
Free storage, transit full container imports
First 15 days 1
Tanzania road user charge, more than three axles
US$10 per 100 km 6

Port charges at Dar es Salaam

The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Tariff Book for sea ports is dated January 2026. It is made under section 73(1)(a) of the Ports Act and takes effect as set out in Government Gazette No. 3 of 2026 1. The tariff book and an online tariff calculator are on the TPA website 2. Selected charges for transit containers, in US dollars per container 1:

Item (clause)Up to 20 ftOver 20 ft
Wharfage, transit full container imports (12.4(a)) 1US$90 1US$180 1
Wharfage, transit full container exports (12.4(b)) 1US$75 1US$150 1
Shore handling, transit full container (14.2.2(a)) 1US$80 1US$120 1
Shore handling, customs verification (14.2.2(b)) 1US$80 1US$140 1
Green Port Initiatives charge (15.1(b)(i)) 1US$50 1US$100 1

Free storage days for transit cargo

  • Transit full container imports: first 15 days free, then US$20 or US$40 a day for days 16 to 21, then US$40 or US$80 a day until delivery 1.
  • Transit full container exports: first 21 days free, then US$16 or US$32 a day until shipment 1.
  • Transit imports at the Kwala inland container depot: first 60 days free, then US$20 or US$40 a day for days 61 to 74 1.

The TAZARA railway

The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) runs a 1,860 km line that links Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam. The two governments own it in equal shares 4. China built the line, which opened in 1976 3.

China, Zambia and Tanzania signed a US$1.4 billion deal in Lusaka on 20 November 2025 to rebuild the line. China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation will run it under a 30-year build, operate and transfer concession, as reported by Mark Simmons in International Railway Journal 3. The same report gives current freight volume as 100,000 tonnes a year and the target as 2.4 million tonnes 3.

A planned 800 km line from Luacano in Angola to Chingola in Zambia would connect with the TAZARA line, creating a route from Lobito on the Atlantic to Dar es Salaam, as reported by Kevin Smith in International Railway Journal 8.

Road user charges and bonds

Tanzania charges US$10 per 100 km for vehicles with more than three axles and US$6 per 100 km for vehicles with up to three axles. It cut the higher rate from US$16 after the 18th meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology 6. The 46th EAC Council directed partner states to keep applying COMESA harmonised rates, keep the status quo and finish a harmonisation study within six months 6.

COMESA lists Zambia among the countries using harmonised road transit charges of US$10 per 100 km for trucks with more than three axles 7. Tanzania is a signatory of the COMESA RCTG Carnet regional transit bond and Zambia is not on the signatory list 7. In December 2022 COMESA said rollout on the North-South Corridor was delayed by concerns raised by Zambian clearing and forwarding agents 9.

Common questions

How long is the TAZARA railway?

1,860 km from Dar es Salaam to Zambia 3,4.

Who will operate TAZARA after the 2025 deal?

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, under a 30-year concession worth US$1.4 billion, as reported by International Railway Journal 3.

How many free storage days do Zambian transit containers get at Dar es Salaam?

Transit full container imports get the first 15 days free and exports the first 21 days 1.

What does Tanzania charge transit trucks?

US$10 per 100 km for trucks with more than three axles and US$6 for up to three axles 6.

Can Zambian cargo use the RCTG regional bond?

Zambia is not on the COMESA list of RCTG signatories 7.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Tanzania Ports Authority: Tariff Book, Sea Ports (January 2026)
  2. Tanzania Ports Authority: Sea Port Tariff Book page (accessed 20 October 2026)
  3. International Railway Journal: Tazara investment deal signed, by Mark Simmons (21 November 2025)
  4. Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority: TAZARA challenges staff to move mounting freight (undated, reports a 24 July 2017 meeting)
  5. Citizen Digital: Dar es Salaam transit cargo rises 17% as regional corridor competition intensifies, by Benjamin Muriuki (2 October 2026)
  6. Tripartite Non-Tariff Barriers Reporting, Monitoring and Eliminating Mechanism: Complaint NTB-001-169, Burundi road user charge (last updated 6 May 2026)
  7. COMESA: Trade facilitation programme, road transit charges and RCTG Carnet (accessed 20 October 2026)
  8. International Railway Journal: Zambia Lobito concessions signed, by Kevin Smith (4 October 2024)
  9. COMESA: Statement by the Secretary General, RCTG Regional Stakeholders Workshop, Victoria Falls (13 to 15 December 2022)

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