Port guide 2026
Toamasina · MICTSL · SPAT · RN2 · PMLP-T · ICD
Port of Toamasina 2026 — Madagascar's Cargo Gateway
Toamasina handles roughly 90% of Madagascar's seaborne trade. In 2025 the port processed 267,681 TEU — a 27.9% increase — making it one of the fastest-growing container ports in the Indian Ocean. This guide covers the port structure, terminal operations, traffic data, and the infrastructure projects shaping its future.
TL;DR
The short version.
267,681
TEU in 2025
+27.9% year-on-year
90%
of Madagascar trade
flows through Toamasina
280–350
trucks/day
on the RN2 corridor
95,318
empty containers
repositioned in 2025
Port structure
Three entities run the port.
Toamasina is governed by SPAT, with container operations under MICTSL and conventional cargo handled by SMMC. Understanding who does what matters when planning cargo movement through the port.
01
SPAT — Port Authority
Société Portuaire de Toamasina is the port authority responsible for infrastructure, berth allocation, and regulatory oversight. SPAT governs all port operations and coordinates between terminal operators, shipping lines, and customs.
02
MICTSL — Container Terminal
Madagascar International Container Terminal Services Limited, a CMA CGM Terminal subsidiary, operates the container terminal under a concession extended to 2040. MICTSL handles FCL and LCL operations with gantry cranes, RTG cranes, and reefer power points.
03
SMMC — Conventional Cargo
Société de Manutention et de Management de Conteneurs handles conventional and break-bulk cargo alongside MICTSL. SMMC manages general cargo, project freight, and oversized loads that fall outside the container terminal's scope.
PMLP-T
Multimodal platform for inland connectivity.
The PMLP-T (Plateforme Multimodale de Logistique du Port de Toamasina) is a planned infrastructure project to integrate road, rail, and warehousing near the port. It aims to reduce dwell times, ease truck congestion, and create a more efficient link between the port and Antananarivo.
Inland integration
The PMLP-T platform is designed to connect the port directly with road and rail corridors, creating a seamless flow of cargo from berth to inland destination.
Dwell time reduction
By shifting sorting, stuffing, and stripping operations away from the congested waterfront, PMLP-T targets shorter vessel turnaround and faster container release.
Warehousing zone
Integrated warehousing and distribution facilities allow importers to receive, inspect, and consolidate cargo before final-mile delivery.
Rail corridor potential
The platform is planned as a future anchor for rail connectivity between Toamasina and Antananarivo, reducing road congestion on the RN2.
Inland Container Depot
The ICD: future infrastructure for scale.
An Inland Container Depot (ICD) would be located away from the port waterfront, providing space for customs clearance, container inspection, and cargo consolidation. As Toamasina traffic grows, an ICD becomes essential to absorb overflow and support the next phase of port expansion.
Off-port clearance
An ICD allows customs clearance, container inspection, and cargo consolidation away from the port, freeing berth and yard space for vessel operations.
Truck turnaround
By decentralising cargo processing, an ICD reduces truck waiting times at the port gate, easing the 280–350 daily movements on the RN2 corridor.
Bonded storage
ICDs offer bonded warehousing for cargo under temporary admission or transit regimes, providing flexibility for importers managing inventory.
Future scale
As Toamasina traffic grows beyond 267,000 TEU, an ICD becomes essential to absorb overflow and support the next phase of port expansion.
Traffic data
RN2 corridor: the numbers that matter.
The RN2 corridor between Toamasina and Antananarivo is Madagascar's busiest freight artery. Between 280 and 350 trucks per day move containerised cargo along this route, making it both the lifeline of the port and its primary bottleneck during peak periods.
280–350
trucks per day on RN2
Container movements between Toamasina port and Antananarivo, the capital and largest consumer market
95,318
empty containers in 2025
Repositioned empties that add to port congestion and truck movements without carrying trade cargo
27.9%
TEU growth in 2025
Year-on-year increase from 209,323 TEU in 2024 to 267,681 TEU in 2025
Terminal operations
MICTSL under CMA CGM.
MICTSL operates the container terminal at Toamasina under a concession that runs through 2040. The terminal handles FCL and LCL container operations with gantry cranes, RTG cranes, reach stackers, and reefer power points. CMA CGM, as the majority carrier and parent company of the terminal operator, provides the primary vessel coverage.
Container handling includes yard management, vessel berthing, cargo lashing, and container tracking through the terminal operating system. MICTSL also manages reefer monitoring for cold chain cargo, a critical service for Madagascar's pharma, seafood, and vanilla export sectors.
The full customs clearance process at Toamasina — ASYCUDA World filing, DGD liaison, risk-channel management — is detailed on the Madagascar customs clearance page.
Common questions
Toamasina 2026, answered.
- How much cargo does the Port of Toamasina handle in 2026?
- In 2025 the Port of Toamasina handled 267,681 TEU, a 27.9% year-on-year increase. It processes roughly 90% of Madagascar's seaborne trade, including containerised imports, exports, and break-bulk cargo.
- Who operates the container terminal at Toamasina?
- MICTSL (Madagascar International Container Terminal Services Limited), a subsidiary of CMA CGM Terminal, operates the container terminal under a concession originally signed in 2005 and extended through 2040.
- What is the PMLP-T multimodal platform?
- The PMLP-T (Plateforme Multimodale de Logistique du Port de Toamasina) is a planned inland connectivity hub designed to integrate road, rail, and warehousing near the port, reducing dwell times and improving cargo flow to Antananarivo.
- What is an ICD and why does it matter for Toamasina?
- An Inland Container Depot (ICD) is an off-port facility where containers can be cleared, stuffed, or stripped away from the congested waterfront. A future ICD near Toamasina would relieve terminal pressure and cut truck turnaround times on the RN2 corridor.
- How many trucks use the RN2 corridor daily?
- Between 280 and 350 trucks per day travel the RN2 corridor between Toamasina and Antananarivo, making it Madagascar's busiest freight artery and a critical bottleneck during peak periods.
- What is the role of SPAT at Toamasina?
- SPAT (Société Portuaire de Toamasina) is the port authority responsible for infrastructure management, berth allocation, and regulatory oversight at the Port of Toamasina. It governs all port operations including MICTSL and SMMC conventional cargo handling.
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