Kenya: Thailand’s Regional Container Lines have shared expansion plans in the East African region, aiming to use the Port of Mombasa as a central hub for the region
On Monday, 19th of January 2026, Thailand’s Regional Container Lines shared its operational expansion plans in the East African region. In this plan, RLC announced that Kenya’s Port in Mombasa will be the key regional hub in the East African expansion.
Expansion plans were disclosed to the Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Captain William Ruto during his meeting with RCL’s Regional Vice President, Captain Derek Png which took place in Mombasa.
In the meeting, Capt. Derek Png stated, “RCL, traditionally focused on intra-Asia trades with smaller vessels, is now expanding into mainline trades with larger tonnage.”
The captain further confirmed that new cargo ships with the ability of carrying approximately 4,000 to 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) have been ordered and the vessels are scheduled to be delivered by 2028.
This expansion plan was welcomed by Managing Director, Captain William Ruto who discussed the continuous investments that have positioned the Port in Mombasa to handle larger vessels and increase overall operational efficiency.
In his remarks Captain Ruto stated, “We welcome your continued support as the port continues to invest in expansion and equipment modernization to make the port more efficient.”
The announcement and meeting highlights were posted on Kenya Ports Authority’s official Facebook site. KPA stated on their page that potential future plans in the maritime and logistics sectors were also discussed at the meeting.
It is anticipated that this partnership will strengthen East Africa’s access to international markets and expand regional trade. KPA also stated that RCL’s entry into the East African market will not only improve feeder connectivity but also increase cargo flow through the biggest port in the region.
Many have expressed their thoughts on this development in the comment section, addressing what it means for the East African region.
A Facebook user by the name Erastus Esilesi wrote, “It signals stronger feeder connectivity, higher cargo volumes, improved port efficiency, and deeper integration of East Africa into the global economy.”
Nicole Betty Amota also shared, “This is a great move. More opportunities for Kenyans coming up.”