Tanzanian freight forwarders angry over increasing surcharges

The Tanzanian Freight Forwarders Association has expressed opposition to government plans of doubling freight storage charges as a means of alleviating port congestion.
The association says it is surprised at the move which will add further problems to those already being experienced by port users. It said it had expected the Tanzanian Ports Authority would instead have focused on improving its service levels to customers. “It is surprising that it is resorting to raising the tariff rates without improving its own services,” said the association’s chairman, Otieno Igogo.
According to the freight forwarders it takes between 41 and 43 days to clear containers at the port of Dar es Salaam. As from 1 January the port has raised the charges levied against containers overstaying in the terminal, from US$ 20 a day per TEU to US$ 40 a day per TEU.