Africa’s Ports and Harbours: Driving Trade and Growth Across the Continent
Ports and harbours have evolved from the days when they merchants would display their crafts and fishermen would bring their daily catch, socialise over coffee and exchange their goods. Today, ports and harbours have sophisticated infrastructure with the main activity being facilitating trade, loading and offloading ships.
Ports and harbours are now a complex and integrated hive of activity at the core of supply chains that connect every part of the world. The introduction of containers by to ports catapulted the transportation of goods across international waters.
Challenges at African ports and harbours
With the world being so connected, and ports being the lifeline of trade globally, Africa needs to fast-track the development of its infrastructure for it to achieve the big goals envisaged through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
The Who Owns Whom report on ports and harbours in Africa highlights some of the challenges Africa is grappling with, such as inefficiencies and cargo handling backlogs, port congestion, vessel scheduling issues, container shortages and soaring freight costs.
Opportunities in global shipping are also hampered by security threats, particularly attacks perpetrated by Houthi militants in the Red Sea, and piracy off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Guinea.
Environmental sustainability in the ports industry
Climate change-related issues resulting in weather-related risks are some of the challenges to be addressed to avert port delays and disruptions.
There is a growing need for green ports, renewable energy integration, and practices that align with environment and sustainability goals. The lack of the latest technologies, and poor road and rail infrastructure in some African countries provides those countries an opportunity to implement the latest technologies and utilise green materials that were not in the mix for developed countries.
Investments and projects in African ports
The Who Owns Whom report refers to some of the investments across the African continent, with two major investors being the UAE and China. The UAE’s “One port one node” strategy aims to establish a network of ports connecting the Gulf with Africa. It has also invested in African port infrastructure and port operations, primarily through DP World and the Abu Dhabi Ports Group (AD Ports).
China is the largest investor in African ports and harbours, with at least 61 existing or planned port projects in Africa, funded, built and/or operated by Chinese entities and financed by the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) and China Development Bank.
Maersk through its subsidiary, APM Terminals, one of the world’s largest port companies, is also planning to invest in new terminals in East and Southern Africa.
These initiatives demonstrate that Africa is taking centre stage in terms of investment, which is not surprising given its size and the minerals available on the continent that are in demand globally.
How is technology shaping African ports?
The graphic below indicates how complex ports have become, and without the use of technology and sophisticated systems, such operations could be almost impossible.
Some African countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco have already invested in advanced cargo tracking and single window systems with automated clearance processes improving efficiency, and clearance times and ensuring transparency.
Ports Value chain

Opportunities in the African port industry
With the many infrastructure gaps and the lack of digital infrastructure like high-speed internet, there is plenty room for public private partnerships, while the need to address the shortage of skilled workers capable or operating and maintaining advanced systems offers more opportunities.
Port modernisation can be realised through mutually beneficial partnerships and collaboration that could harmonise systems within regional trade blocs such as the AfCFTA.
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