Port Brief — August 2026
Published 12 August 2026 · By Dominique Zuffour
Toamasina gets its first quay cranes — and the network around it is shifting.
July 2026 brought two milestones to Toamasina: the arrival of Madagascar's first ship-to-shore gantry cranes, and the commissioning of the new C4 container berth — together unlocking the ability to handle vessels up to 14,000 TEU for the first time. Meanwhile, PIL has restructured its Indian Ocean network with a new Singapore–Port Louis–Tamatave loop, CMA CGM has introduced peak-season surcharges on Far East cargo, and the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to cascade congestion through Indian Ocean transhipment hubs. For operators moving cargo through Madagascar's main port, the landscape is changing fast. Here is what you need to know this month.
14,000 TEU
New C4 berth capacity
Up from 3,000 TEU ceiling. Can now handle mainline vessels, not just feeders.
16m
C4 berth draft
470m quay (333m operational March 2026, full completion expected Q4 2026).
67.5m
STS crane outreach
24 container rows — up from 18 rows with previous mobile cranes.
2
ZPMC STS cranes
First ship-to-shore cranes in Madagascar's history. Arrived 13 July aboard Zhong Yu 188.
Infrastructure upgrade
First STS cranes in Madagascar's history.
The cranes
Two ZPMC STS gantry cranes arrived fully erected aboard the heavy-lift vessel Zhong Yu 188 on 13 July 2026. Safe working load: 65 tonnes. Outreach: 67.5 metres (24 container rows, up from the 18-row limit of the previous mobile harbour cranes). Lift height: 52 metres. These are the first quay gantry cranes ever installed in Madagascar — until now, all container ships at Toamasina were worked with mobile cranes.
The C4 berth
The new container quay was commissioned in two phases: 333m operational from 21 March 2026, with the full 470m expected to complete later this year. Water depth: 16 metres alongside and in the approach channel. Financed through a JICA loan of ¥45.214bn (~US$287M), the expansion also includes 10–15 hectares of new container yard, a maintenance workshop, and upgraded security infrastructure. The berth can accommodate vessels up to 14,000 TEU — tripling the previous 3,000 TEU ceiling and enabling mainline vessel calls for the first time.
ICTSI concession
ICTSI has operated the Toamasina container terminal since 2005. The concession was extended in 2021 and now runs until 2040. The C4 berth and STS cranes are part of a broader US$639M port expansion programme. Once fully operational, the project is expected to triple Toamasina's capacity and reduce the port's dependence on transhipment through regional hubs including Port Louis, Reunion, Colombo, and Singapore.
What this means for operators
Mainline vessel calls mean fewer transhipment moves, shorter total transit times on some corridors, and potentially lower per-TEU costs as the port handles volume at scale. However, the transition period will involve commissioning adjustments — expect some schedule variability as the terminal integrates the new cranes into operations. Monitor MICTSL berth windows and book early during the ramp-up phase.
Carrier services — August 2026
Who's calling, what's changed.
CMA CGM
Weekly
Phoenix (Far East) + Indian Ocean rotation
Dominant carrier. Via Singapore/Colombo transhipment for China origin. New PSS from 10 Aug: $400/TEU China, $250/TEU other Far East.
PIL
Weekly (from 6 Aug)
Indian Ocean Express (IOX) — NEW
Singapore → Port Louis → Reunion → Tamatave → Singapore. First sailing 6 August 2026. Also continues Durban–Tamatave direct.
MSC
Weekly
Indian Ocean rotation
Jebel Ali–Tamatave service. Also Cape Town–Tamatave connection.
Maersk/Safmarine
Fortnightly
Via Colombo hub
Connects via Colombo transhipment. Less frequent but handles heavy cargo and project moves.
Disruption watch
Hormuz disruption — Indian Ocean ripple effects.
Transhipment congestion
Elevated
Colombo, Singapore, and Indian west-coast ports (Navi Mumbai, Mundra) are running above baseline dwell times. Navi Mumbai import dwell hit 23 days (vs 4.9 pre-crisis). This affects connecting services to Toamasina via these hubs.
Carrier surcharges
Active
CMA CGM PSS from Far East (effective 10 Aug). Emergency Fuel Surcharges on Hormuz-affected routes. MSC and others following. Budget 5–8% above base rates on Gulf-origin cargo.
Booking lead times
Extend by 3–5 days
Container shortages at Indian inland depots. Only 30–40% of bookings released on some India–Europe services. Madagascar connections via Indian hubs affected. Book early.
Cape routing
Structural alternative
Cape of Good Hope rerouting adds 10+ days to Far East–Europe transit. Some carriers have structurally integrated the southern route. Port Elizabeth saw 2x baseline vessel capacity in weeks 5–6 of the disruption.
Operator actions
What to do this month.
1
Book 2–3 weeks earlier than usual on Gulf and India lanes
Transhipment congestion at Colombo and Indian ports means connecting services to Toamasina are running behind schedule. For Jebel Ali and Nhava Sheva origin cargo, add 3–5 days to your normal booking window.
2
Budget for peak-season surcharges
CMA CGM's new PSS ($400/TEU from China, $250/TEU from other Far East) is effective 10 August. Expect MSC and others to follow. Factor these into your landed-cost calculations for Q3/Q4 shipments.
3
Consider PIL's new IOX service for Asia routes
PIL's Indian Ocean Express (Singapore–Port Louis–Reunion–Tamatave) launched 6 August. It provides an alternative transhipment route via Singapore that may bypass some of the Colombo congestion. Ask your forwarder about availability.
4
Monitor C4 berth commissioning updates
The new C4 berth and STS cranes will progressively increase Toamasina's capacity. As the terminal ramps up, vessel turnaround times should improve. Ekutano monitors MICTSL terminal updates and will report changes in the monthly brief.
Questions we get
Toamasina — August 2026 FAQ.
- What are the new STS cranes at Toamasina?
- Two ZPMC ship-to-shore gantry cranes arrived on 13 July 2026 aboard the heavy-lift vessel Zhong Yu 188. They are the first STS cranes ever installed in Madagascar. The cranes have a safe working load of 65 tonnes, outreach of 67.5 metres (24 container rows), and lift height of 52 metres. They will serve the new C4 container berth at the ICTSI-operated MICTSL terminal.
- What is the new C4 berth?
- The C4 berth is a new 470-metre container quay (333m commissioned March 2026, remainder expected later in 2026) with 16 metres of water alongside. It can accommodate vessels up to 14,000 TEU — a dramatic increase from the previous 3,000 TEU ceiling. The berth was financed through a JICA loan of ¥45.214bn (~US$287M) and includes 10–15 hectares of expanded container yard.
- Which carriers call Toamasina in August 2026?
- CMA CGM, MSC, PIL, and Maersk/Safmarine all maintain services. PIL has restructured its Indian Ocean network effective August 2026, launching the Indian Ocean Express (IOX) service routing Singapore–Port Louis–Reunion–Tamatave–Singapore. CMA CGM has introduced Peak Season Surcharges (US$400/TEU from China, US$250/TEU from other Far East) effective 10 August.
- How long does customs clearance take at Toamasina?
- Standard FCL clearance: 2–3 business days. Cold chain and pharma: 4–5 days. Mining and project cargo: 5–7 days. ASYCUDA World filing is same-day. Average import dwell in February 2026 was 4.3 days (Cogoport data), down from 9.6 days in January — suggesting improving terminal efficiency.
- What is the main disruption affecting Toamasina in August 2026?
- The Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to ripple through Indian Ocean shipping networks. While Toamasina is not directly on the Hormuz route, transhipment congestion at Colombo, Singapore, and Indian west-coast ports affects connecting services. CMA CGM and MSC have introduced Emergency Fuel Surcharges. Booking lead times should be extended by 3–5 days on Gulf-origin cargo.
Moving cargo through Toamasina this quarter? Let us plan around the C4 ramp-up.
We monitor MICTSL terminal operations, carrier schedules, and corridor disruptions in real time. Send your routing and we'll come back with the realistic transit, the booking lead time, and what the new cranes mean for your specific lane.