Demand for heavy-duty trucks in Tanzania is surging as record cargo volumes flood through the Port of Dar es Salaam, putting pressure on the country's transport sector to keep pace with rapid economic growth. 

The country's main port is busier than ever, handling far more goods as the government pushes to position the East African country as a key regional transport hub. 

"The volume of cargo handled at the Port of Dar es Salaam has increased from 16.2 million tonnes in the 2020/21 financial year to 27.7 million tonnes in the 2024/25 financial year, representing growth of more than 70 percent," Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said.

But the boom has created a major challenge.

With more ships docking and containers piling up, the need for trucks to move the goods inland is growing fast. 

Haulage industry players estimate the country needs thousands more heavy-duty vehicles each year to support trade, mining and construction. 

One of Tanzania's largest truck assemblers has been forced to ramp up production to meet the demand. 

Mehul Sachdev, Chief Operating Officer of Saturn Corporation, said the company has scaled dramatically since starting operations two years ago. 

"We started with production of four units a day. Today, we produce close to 30 units per day, so we have scaled up because of demand," Sachdev told CGTN. 

The firm now produces more than 6,000 trucks annually and aims to reach 10,000 in the coming years. 

Chinese brands, known for being affordable and sturdy, are proving especially popular among local buyers. For years, Tanzania relied heavily on cheap imported second-hand trucks. Now, with new local assembly plants operating, freshly built vehicles are becoming a more common sight on the country's highways, helping move goods across East Africa. 

The government has adjusted import duties in an effort to increase truck supply and ease bottlenecks. However, some local manufacturers argue that the changes are making it harder for them to compete. 

"The government should reinstate the duty structure back to 25% to allow assemblers like ourselves to produce more. Remember it's not just assembling trucks; we are also creating employment in the industry. Currently with a single shift we have employed about 364 staff," Sachdev said.

Industry players say the next step is moving beyond assembly into local manufacturing of truck parts and components. If successful, they believe Tanzania could supply not only its own growing market, but also serve neighboring countries across East and Southern Africa.