Port of Maputo shipping covers most sea cargo for southern Mozambique and a large share of transit cargo to and from South Africa: containers, bagged and bulk cargo, vehicles, project cargo and dangerous goods. The port is run by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), the container terminal by DP World, and cargo clears through Mozambican customs in the JUE electronic single window. This guide covers the terminals, vessel limits, port rules, customs and how we ship your cargo there from Dubai. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Maputo and from Maputo to Dubai.
Port of Maputo guide: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Port operator and authority | Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) |
| MPDC shareholders | CFM (Mozambique ports and railways) and Portus Indico (Grindrod, DP World, Mozambique Gestores) |
| Concession | Granted 15 April 2003, extended to 2058 in January 2024 |
| Container terminal operator | DP World Maputo, concession to 2043 |
| UN/LOCODE | MZMPM |
| Location | Maputo and Matola, on the Espirito Santo estuary in Maputo Bay |
| Cargo handled in 2025 | 32.0 million tonnes, a record, up 3.4% |
| Maputo Cargo Terminal | About 129 ha with 3,000 m of continuous quay |
| Container terminal | Berth 10, 308 m; capacity 255,000 TEU, being expanded to 530,000 TEU |
| Access channel | North Channel, maximum depth 14.4 m below chart datum |
| Maximum vessel size (port guidelines) | 325 m length, 38 m beam; wider ships case by case |
| Operating hours | 24 hours a day; public offices Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 15:30 |
| Cargo types | Containers, reefers, bagged cargo, steel, vehicles, grain, sugar, vegetable oil, coal and magnetite, project cargo, IMDG dangerous goods |
| Import duty and VAT (Mozambique) | Duty 0% to 25% by HS code; IVA 16% |
| Shipping from Maputo to Dubai | Also handled: arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, cleared by UAE customs with 5% duty on most goods and 5% VAT |
Where is the Port of Maputo and what does it connect?
The port sits in Maputo and Matola on the north bank of the Espirito Santo estuary. It has two parts: the Maputo Cargo Terminal next to the city, and the Matola bulk terminals upriver. Ships reach both through the North Channel and then the Xefina, Polana and Matola channels.
The port's reach goes well beyond Mozambique. The Maputo Development Corridor links it by road and rail to South Africa's Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. On the Mozambican side, the EN4 road runs 92 km from the Lebombo and Ressano Garcia border posts at Komatipoort straight to the port. MPDC reports 11.7 million tonnes moved by rail in 2025, up from 9.7 million tonnes in 2024.
A simple rule: if your consignee is in Maputo or Matola, the inland leg is short. If the cargo is for South Africa or another neighbouring country, plan the transit declaration and the truck or rail leg before the vessel sails.
Which terminals does the Port of Maputo have?
The Maputo Cargo Terminal and the Matola bulk terminals are split into specialised terminals, several of them sub-concessioned to private operators. The terminal on your booking decides the berth, the handling and who you deal with on arrival.
Terminals at the Maputo cargo quays
| Terminal | Berth | Quay length | Operator and cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Terminal | 1 (cabotage) | 293 m | Coastal shipping |
| General Cargo Terminal | 3, 4 and 5 | 263 m, 273 m, 230 m | MPDC; bagged rice, bagged cement, project cargo and other goods |
| Car Terminal | 5 | 230 m | Grindrod; 115,000 cars a year, 4,158 parking bays on 85,109 sq m |
| Molasses Terminal | 6 | 246 m | Molasses |
| Bulk Sugar Terminal | 8 | 202 m | Bulk sugar |
| Ferro Terminal | 9 | 436 m | Ferrous cargo |
| Container Terminal | 10 | 308 m | DP World; containers, reefers, DG, out-of-gauge |
| Aco Terminal | 11 and 12 | 177 m, 169 m | Steel |
| Bulk Liquids Terminal | 12 | 169 m | Maputo Liquids Storage Company; vegetable oil, six heated tanks of 10,000 cubic metres in total |
Matola bulk terminals
| Terminal | Quay length | Operator and cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Terminal (TCM) | 220 m | Grindrod; coal and magnetite exports, 7.5 million tonnes a year capacity |
| Grain Terminal | 210 m | Grindrod; 25,000 tonnes in silos plus 30,000 tonnes of flat storage |
| Aluminium Terminal | 230 m | Mozal aluminium cargo |
MPDC's 2025 results list the next steps: bulk terminal capacity to 16 million tonnes, the Grindrod magnetite and coal terminal to 12 million, and the container terminal to 530,000 TEU.
Port services and equipment
MPDC lists two tugs of 37 and 60 tonnes bollard pull, two 144-tonne Liebherr mobile harbour cranes added in 2015, and two mobile general cargo cranes of 40 to 60 tonnes. There is a small dry dock of 80 m by 12 m. The port works 24 hours a day, and imports and exports are handled through shipping agents.
Channel depth and vessel limits
MPDC gives the North Channel a maximum depth of 14.4 m, with 13.7 m in the Xefina and Polana channels and 13.2 m in the Matola channel, all below chart datum, so you add the tide. The entrance buoy is 25 miles from the pilot station.
The port's operating guidelines say the channel is kept for ships of 14.5 m draft on neap tides and 15.5 m on spring tides during 50% of the period, with a 120 m width. That gives these limits:
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum length | 325 m |
| Maximum beam | 38 m; wider ships case by case |
| Draft with no restriction | Up to 10.5 m |
| Sailing draft over 12.0 m | Written request to the Harbour Master, case by case |
| Under keel clearance | 0.20 m alongside, 1.00 m in the channel |
| Air draft under the Katembe Bridge | 62 m |
For a shipper this matters mostly for bulk and breakbulk. A deep-loaded bulk carrier may need to sail on the tide, which affects the laycan and the discharge plan.
Container shipping at the Port of Maputo
DP World runs the container terminal at berth 10. Its terminal page lists 3 mobile harbour cranes, 6 rubber tyre gantries, a 15 ha terminal, 450 reefer points and a rail siding with 4 tracks of 375 m. Cargo types include standard and reefer containers, IMDG dangerous goods, project and out-of-gauge cargo and automotive cargo. Services include covered warehouses, empty depot management, an on-dock container freight station, car stuffing and destuffing, and customs agency services.
DP World names services from MSC, CMA CGM and Maersk, ONE, Unifeeder and Hapag-Lloyd, PIL, Ignazio Messina and MACS.
The container terminal expansion
Work on a USD 165 million expansion started on 1 May 2025. DP World's figures:
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 255,000 TEU | 530,000 TEU |
| Quay length | 308 m | 650 m |
| Depth at berth | 12 m | 16 m |
| Reefer plugs | 450 | 715 |
| Cranes | Mobile harbour cranes | Three new ship-to-shore cranes added |
| Largest ship | Not stated | Post-Panamax up to 366 m long |
Until the new berth is in service, the 325 m port limit and the 12 m berth depth still apply, so larger mainline ships call elsewhere and feed Maputo.
FCL or LCL? A full container suits stock orders and anything you want sealed from Dubai to the consignee. LCL suits small orders, but the shared box is unpacked at a freight station and your release depends on every other shipper's paperwork. Our sea freight service prices both.
Breakbulk, project and bulk cargo at Maputo
MPDC's FAQ names bulk minerals, vehicles, containers, sugar, coal and vegetable oils as the main cargo, with pipes, rice, frozen fish, bagged cement, bagged alumina and wheat among the rest, and says project cargo is growing. The General Cargo Terminal at berths 3 to 5 handles bagged rice, bagged cement and project cargo, around the clock.
The port guidelines set rules that affect how you plan:
- For a vessel worked with ship's cranes or mobile cranes, 80% of export cargo must be in stack before berthing, and 100% of the cargo in the first two sequences.
- Bulk cargo larger than 300 mm in any dimension is out of specification and can draw a surcharge.
- Stowage plans, working instructions and customs permits must be in Portuguese or English.
- No changes to the stowage plan are accepted once the pre-berthing (Phase II) meeting has taken place and cargo work has started.
When we ship project cargo to Maputo, we plan it in this order:
- Collect drawings, dimensions, weights and centre of gravity for each piece.
- Choose flat rack on a container ship, or breakbulk or heavy-lift tonnage.
- Agree lifting, lashing and the discharge berth with the carrier and the terminal.
- Plan the road move from the quay with the consignee's agent, including permits.
- Line up customs and the certificate of conformity so the cargo leaves the port quickly.
Our guide to flat rack, open top and breakbulk options helps with the second step, and our project cargo logistics process covers the rest. For full or part bulk cargoes, see bulk shipping from Dubai to Africa, and for what we cover, our break bulk and project cargo service.
Dangerous goods at the Port of Maputo: what the port rules say
DP World lists IMDG dangerous goods among the cargo its Maputo terminal handles. The port operating guidelines add local rules on top of the IMDG Code:
| Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Declaration of IMO class goods | All dangerous goods, breakbulk or bulk, declared in the VAN system when the vessel is announced |
| Documents in VAN | Material Safety Data Sheet and IMO Dangerous Goods Declaration |
| Extra documents by class | For example confirmation that firefighters will be present |
| Ammonium nitrate (Decree 69/2022) | Maximum 10,000 tonnes per vessel call; no handling or transport in bulk; fire department presence |
| Road transport out of the port (Decree 50/2019) | Trained crew, spill kit, extinguishers, warning triangles, emergency sheet and shipper declaration on the truck |
Undeclared DG can bring fees, sanctions and legal action under the guidelines. What you need to give us for a DG booking:
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- A Safety Data Sheet for each product and a signed DG declaration.
- UN-approved packaging, labels and container placards.
- Any Mozambican permit for the product, and a certificate of conformity if the chemical is regulated.
Our dangerous goods shipping team checks classification and carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Customs clearance at the Port of Maputo: documents, duty and IVA
Mozambique's Foreign Trade Portal says using a customs broker is mandatory. The broker files the declaration in the Janela Unica Electronica (JUE), the single window run under the customs directorate, which also holds the SIGA customs system, an HS code search and a duty simulator. In July 2026 MPDC also launched Mozambique's first Port Community System with Kale Logistics Solutions, to link the customs single window, terminal systems and payments.
Which documents does Maputo clearance need?
| Document | Who provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Final commercial invoice and packing list | Seller | Values, weights and marks must match the bill of lading |
| Bill of lading | Carrier | Maersk asks for 2 originals for Mozambique; telex release and sea waybill also allowed |
| Certificate of conformity (CoC) | Intertek, before shipment | For products on the regulated list, worth USD 2,000 FOB or more, and all used products |
| Customs declaration | Importer's licensed broker, in JUE | Duty and IVA paid before release |
| Term of Commitment (TCI) | Importer, through JUE | Under service order 02/AT/DGA/411/2025, from 5 June 2025 |
| Importer licence | Mozambican buyer | From the National Directorate of Trade |
| Sector permits | Mozambican agency | For example medicines, firearms, explosives, live animals |
The certificate of conformity
Regulated products need a CoC from Intertek, acting for INNOQ, IP. INNOQ's 2024 communique says the assessment happens in the country of origin before shipment and the certificate must be shown to customs on entry. Intertek reports that INAE made a valid CoC mandatory from 27 June 2025. Shipments that arrive without one go through Route D at destination: 0.80% of value, minimum USD 500, maximum USD 5,000, plus clearance delays.
Duty and IVA
The US government's country guide gives import duty of 0% to 25% by HS code, with consumer goods generally at 20%. IVA on imports is 16%, cut from 17% by Law 22/2022 from 1 January 2023. Check your exact rate in the JUE duty simulator or with the broker.
How to ship to the Port of Maputo from Dubai, step by step
This is how we handle a typical shipment from Jebel Ali to Maputo. We book space, prepare the UAE documents and work with the consignee's customs broker in Mozambique.
- Tell us about the cargo. Commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, value and the Incoterm agreed with your buyer.
- Check the Mozambican side. The buyer's broker confirms the duty rate, permits and whether the product is on the CoC list.
- Pick the service. We compare direct and transhipped services from Jebel Ali Port and confirm transit and free days.
- Start the CoC file if needed. The buyer gives the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and we apply to Intertek with the invoice, packing list and test reports.
- Book space and stuff the container. For DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo we get carrier acceptance first. If the CoC applies, Intertek witnesses loading and sealing.
- File the UAE export declaration and release the bill of lading. We check the draft against the invoice and CoC.
- Send the full set to the broker before arrival. The broker files in JUE, pays duty and IVA and completes the TCI.
- Delivery from the port. The consignee's agent collects the delivery order and arranges the truck, or the transit move to a neighbouring country.
Published transit from Jebel Ali to Maputo
Hapag-Lloyd's Maputo Express (MAX) brochure shows a fortnightly direct service between Jebel Ali, Mundra and Maputo, with 15 days from Jebel Ali to Maputo (12 days back to Jebel Ali), and an in-bond extension from Maputo to Komatipoort in South Africa for dry cargo that adds about 5 days. The brochure is from 2022, so check the current rotation before you book.
[AMIR-FACT: Our real port-to-port transit Jebel Ali to Maputo (days) and the carriers or services we actually use into Maputo]
How to ship from the Port of Maputo to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Maputo to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Mozambican export papers stay with the shipper or its Mozambican agent.
The Mozambican export side
- Export declaration. A customs broker (despachante aduaneiro) normally submits the declaration, the Documento Unico, in the JUE electronic single window. The government export guide says the exporting company stays legally responsible for what it declares.
- Timing. The guide says the export process normally starts at least 15 days before the vessel arrives, beginning with a UCR consignment number created in JUE.
- Certificates and licences. Since 1 June 2023 the Mozambique Chamber of Commerce issues general certificates of origin electronically. Agricultural, mining and medical products, among others, may need specific licences or certificates.
- Bank form and inspection. The broker also lodges the bank's export commitment form with the local bank, and customs may inspect the goods before they enter the port.
The UAE import side
For cargo cleared in Dubai, the import declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit from the authority that controls restricted goods. The bill of lading is what releases the cargo from the shipping line. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, charged on the customs value including freight and insurance. A VAT-registered importer that has registered its customs number with the Federal Tax Authority pays no VAT at the border and accounts for it on its next VAT return.
- Send us the shipper's details in Maputo, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space with the carrier from Maputo to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker picks up the cargo and delivers the container to the Maputo container terminal before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Mozambican agent lodges the export declaration (Documento Unico) in JUE and gets any export licence.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list before the line issues it.
- We file the UAE import declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order from the shipping line.
- We truck the container to your site in the UAE.
- We return the empty container to the line's depot within free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Maputo to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah and our real port-to-port transit days in this direction]
Free time, demurrage and storage at Maputo
Shipping lines give free days on their containers, then charge demurrage while the full box stays in the port and detention while you keep it outside. Free days and daily rates differ by carrier and container type, so read them on the quote and the arrival notice. For non-container cargo, the port guidelines say free storage follows the terminal handling terms, and cargo not removed within 60 days of a removal notice can be treated as abandoned.
Three things keep these costs down: get the CoC before loading, send documents to the broker before the vessel arrives, and book delivery before free time starts. Our article on demurrage and detention shows how the charges build up.
Checklist before you ship to Maputo
- HS code and duty rate confirmed for every item.
- Buyer licensed as an importer, with a customs broker appointed.
- CoC issued before the container is sealed, or confirmed not needed.
- Invoice, packing list, CoC and bill of lading show the same values, weights and consignee.
- Bill of lading type agreed: originals, telex release or sea waybill.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packaging, labels and carrier acceptance, ready for the VAN declaration.
- For breakbulk: drawings, weights, lifting points, and paperwork in Portuguese or English.
- For transit cargo: transit declaration and guarantee arranged with the broker.
- Free time agreed with the carrier.
Common mistakes
- Sealing a regulated FCL before Intertek inspects it. The CoC then has to be done at destination under Route D, at a higher fee.
- Booking a ship that is too big. Ships over 325 m or 38 m beam need special approval, and deep drafts depend on the tide.
- Late DG declaration. IMO class goods must be in the VAN system when the vessel is announced.
- Mismatched documents. A different weight on the invoice and the bill of lading holds clearance.
- Changing the stowage plan after the Phase II meeting. The port does not accept it once cargo work starts.
- Leaving cargo in the port. Storage builds, and long-stay cargo can be treated as abandoned.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the port of Maputo and its terminals?
The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) runs the port and acts as port authority under a concession extended to 2058. MPDC is owned by CFM and Portus Indico, which brings together Grindrod, DP World and Mozambique Gestores. DP World runs the container terminal.
What is the port code for Maputo?
The UN/LOCODE for the Port of Maputo is MZMPM. You will see it on bookings, bills of lading and tracking systems.
How deep is the channel at the Port of Maputo?
The North Channel has a maximum depth of 14.4 m below chart datum, and the port guidelines keep it for 14.5 m draft on neap tides and 15.5 m on spring tides for part of the tide. The container berth is 12 m deep, rising to 16 m after the expansion.
What is the largest ship the Port of Maputo can take?
The port guidelines set 325 m length and 38 m beam, with wider ships considered case by case. Drafts over 12.0 m need written approval from the Harbour Master.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Maputo take?
Hapag-Lloyd's Maputo Express brochure gives 15 days from Jebel Ali to Maputo on a fortnightly direct service. Services that call at other ports first take longer, so check the rotation when you book.
What documents do I need to clear cargo at Maputo?
You need a final commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and, for regulated goods, a certificate of conformity. The importer's licensed broker files the declaration in JUE and completes the Term of Commitment, and some goods need sector permits.
Can I ship dangerous goods to the Port of Maputo?
Yes. DP World handles IMDG cargo at Maputo, and all IMO class goods must be declared in the port's VAN system with an MSDS and a DG declaration. Ammonium nitrate is limited to 10,000 tonnes per call and may not be handled in bulk.
Does the Port of Maputo handle breakbulk and project cargo?
Yes. The General Cargo Terminal at berths 3 to 5 handles bagged rice, bagged cement and project cargo, and there are dedicated terminals for steel, vehicles, grain, sugar, vegetable oil and coal.
What is the import VAT rate in Mozambique?
IVA on imports is 16%, the standard rate since 1 January 2023. Customs duty comes on top, from 0% to 25% depending on the HS code.
How do I ship from Maputo to Dubai?
The Mozambican shipper's customs broker lodges the export declaration in JUE, with a certificate of origin and any licence the product needs. We book the space to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, file the UAE import declaration and arrange payment of the 5% duty (on the CIF value of most goods) and the 5% import VAT.
Get a quote for Port of Maputo shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price from Dubai to Maputo. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team if you want to talk through a breakbulk, project or DG shipment first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- MPDC: Port of Maputo homepage (shareholders, concession, dry dock)
- MPDC: Maputo Cargo Terminal (berths and quay lengths)
- MPDC: Matola Bulk Terminal
- MPDC: Container Terminal (concession to 2043)
- MPDC: General Cargo Terminal
- MPDC: Car Terminal
- MPDC: Coal Terminal
- MPDC: Maputo Grain Terminal
- MPDC: Bulk Liquids Terminal
- MPDC: Navigation (channels, depths, air draft)
- MPDC: FAQs (cargo, cranes, tugs, hours)
- MPDC: Port Operating Guidelines (vessel limits, cargo rules, DG)
- MPDC: Maputo Development Corridor
- MPDC: Record volumes in 2025 (January 2026)
- MPDC: Port Community System launch (July 2026)
- Grindrod: MPDC concession extension to 2058
- DP World: Maputo container terminal
- DP World: USD 165 million Maputo container terminal expansion (May 2025)
- Hapag-Lloyd: Maputo Express (MAX) brochure
- Intertek and INNOQ: Mozambique CAP summary datasheet
- INNOQ, IP: Communique on the CAP (September 2024)
- Intertek: Mandatory CoC from 27 June 2025
- Mozambique Foreign Trade Portal: Commerce guides
- Janela Unica Electronica (JUE) portal
- SAL and Caldeira (DLA Piper Africa): Term of Commitment
- US trade.gov: Mozambique import tariffs
- US trade.gov: Mozambique import requirements
- RSM Mozambique: VAT Code and customs tariff changes
- Maersk: Mozambique import information
- Wikipedia: Port of Maputo (location, UN/LOCODE)
- Ministry of Industry and Commerce (Mozambique): Guia de Exportacao, April 2023 (JUE, customs broker, UCR, certificates of origin)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, permits)
- UAE Government portal: Clearing customs and paying customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT (5% rate)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide, section 3.5 on VAT on imports (5%, deferral for VAT-registered importers)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026