At one time it was important as a navigable waterway for transporting good from the northeast of the country down to the Congo.

During low water the river widens and splits into several branches, making navigation by large vessels difficult.

[9] At one time the Itimbiri was the second most important tributary of the Congo in terms of tonnage transported after the Kasaï River.

It was used for cargo from Aketi, at the head of the Chemins de fer vicinaux du Zaïre (CVZ) down to its mouth, a distance of 255 kilometres (158 mi).

Cargo was transferred to the Congo River boats at Bumba, 28 kilometres (17 mi) downstream from its mouth.