The Attempt of African Ports to Position Themselves Amid Global Trade Shifts and the Expected Growth in Intra-African Traffic

African ports are increasingly seeking to enhance their role in global shipping networks, driven both by shifts in international trade and the anticipated growth in intra-African traffic following the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Although trade frictions, rising tariffs and increasing trade policy uncertainty between major Northern Hemisphere economies (particularly the EU and the United States) may encourage the redirection of some trade toward Southern Hemisphere markets, African ports’ ability to capture these flows is not guaranteed.

Sub-regional competition among ports has intensified in recent years. East African ports, such as Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, were initially at the forefront of this competition, seeking to attract larger shares of regional and international shipping traffic. More recently, West African ports (including Lomé, Abidjan, Tema, and Lagos) have reinforced their efforts to establish themselves as transshipment and gateway hubs for West Africa and the broader continent, positioning to benefit from both global trade shifts and the expected growth in intra-African commerce.

The Port of Lomé, located in the Gulf of Guinea, exemplifies this strategic positioning. In 2024, the port handled 30.64 million tonnes of cargo, a 1.85% increase over the previous year, with container throughput rising 5.19% to 2 million TEUs. Approximately 20.2 million tonnes of this volume represented transshipment traffic, highlighting Lomé’s role as a gateway for landlocked Sahelian countries, including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. The port also maintains strong regional connections to Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing its relevance in West African maritime trade.

Several operational advantages underpin Lomé’s transshipment role. Deep-water access allows it to accommodate large container vessels, while high crane productivity further facilitates efficient cargo handling. To further expand capacity, the port has initiated a dredging project at the Lomé Container Terminal, enabling accommodation of vessels exceeding 19,000 TEU and 400 meters in length. This investment, part of a broader program exceeding €500 million, aims to raise capacity to 2.7 million TEUs and enhance competitiveness relative to regional peers.

It is important to note that while changes in global trade and the expected growth in intra-African commerce create opportunities, African ports’ ability to capture these flows depends on multiple factors, including operational efficiency, political stability, shipping costs, and integration into global shipping networks through bilateral or multilateral agreements with key trading partners. Without these conditions, diverted trade is more likely to favor established intermediary hubs in Asia, Middle East, or Latin America such as Singapore, Dubai, or Santos (Brazil), before reaching African ports.

African ports, including Lomé, are actively positioning themselves as strategic nodes in both global and continental trade. Investments in infrastructure, operational efficiency, and regional connectivity reflect deliberate efforts to translate emerging opportunities into measurable growth. Yet potential alone is insufficient: success requires continuous improvements in logistics, effective governance, and close coordination with major international shipping lines. Through careful planning and efficient operations, African ports can evolve from serving primarily regional markets to becoming influential players in both African and global maritime networks.