Bosaso Port Fee Dispute: Trade Expert Defends Tariff Increase, Calls for Public Understanding

Garowe (WDN) – As the dispute over increased port charges at Bosaso Port continues to disrupt trade and commercial activity, international trade policy expert Eng. Abdullahi Bakayle has defended the revised tariff structure, arguing that much of the public debate has been driven by misinformation and a misunderstanding of how port fees and regional trade systems operate.

Bakayle said recent commentary surrounding the tariff increase has overlooked key facts about the port’s previous fee structure and the economic realities of maintaining modern maritime infrastructure. According to Bakayle, the previous tariff at Bosaso Port was exceptionally low by regional standards.

He explained that a vessel carrying 7,000 metric tons of cargo—equivalent to approximately 140,000 bags of 50 kilograms each—previously paid only $0.70 per metric ton, generating total port charges of $4,900. Spread across the entire shipment, that amounted to just $3.5 cents per bag, a fee he described as virtually unmatched anywhere in the region.

Under the new tariff structure, the charge has increased to $7 per metric ton, raising the cost to approximately 35 cents per bag. Bakayle argued that despite public criticism, the increase remains modest when compared with neighboring ports.