An Empirical Assessment of Container Dwell-Time Changes at Dar es Salaam Port Before and After Privatization

This study evaluates the impact of the April 2024 DP World concession on container dwell-time at Dar es Salaam’s Terminal One by combining an interrupted time-series (ITS) of monthly data (January 2019–June 2025) with thematic analysis of stakeholder interviews. ITS results reveal a statistically significant immediate reduction of 2.84 days in average dwell-time (p < .001) and a further monthly decrease of 0.074 days (p = .016), culminating in an overall 42 percent improvement and a 1.2-day contraction at seasonal peaks. Qualitative findings attribute these gains to three key mechanisms: OCR gate automation, a fully integrated single-window customs platform, and dedicated green-lane handling for sensitive cargo. However, an emergent “capability gap” theme underscores the necessity of sustained labour up-skilling and change-management to maintain momentum. By echoing privatization successes in Singapore, Durban, and Colombo, this mixed-methods analysis demonstrates that coupling targeted capital investments with human-capital development is critical for locking in durable efficiency dividends. Future research should monitor long-term performance trajectories and evaluate training initiatives to reinforce structural enhancements.