Ports and Terminals in Africa Key Terms

Knowing more about African ports and terminals can help you with your shipping needs

By Deborah Barr

If your business is expanding, you may be thinking about shipping your products to African cities. Or perhaps you need to import African products in order to support your manufacturing needs here at home. Either way, knowing more about African ports and terminals could be important for your planning.

Port of Agadir

The port of Agadir is one of Morocco's 15 ports, and its fourth busiest. It is experiencing much growth, partly due to its ability to handle specialized cargoes such as chilled and frozen items. The Port of Agadir is surrounded by the Sahara Desert, which makes it a popular tourist resort.
Try: Get more details about the Port of Agadir at World Port Source.

Inland Container Depots

Inland Container Depots (ICDs) are dry ports that handle and store both containers full of cargo and empty containers. The purpose of ICDs is to give inland customers faster service. There are six ICDs in Africa, with three in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret linkedg by rail to the container terminal in Mombasa.
Try: Learn about Africa's newest ICD at BDAfrica.

Djibouti Container Terminal

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa. About 85 percent of its business comes from the imports and exports of Ethiopia, which is landlocked. Since the Djibouti Container Terminal began operating with a software application called Navis SPARCS, the port has been able to complete 20 moves an hour, making it one of the most productive ports in Africa.
Try: Read more about the Djibouti container terminal at BBC News.

Roll-on/roll-off cargo

Roll-on/roll-off cargoes are driven on and off a ship on their own wheels. Roll-on/roll-off cargo include cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars. African ports that can handle this special type of cargo include the Port of Agadir, the Port of Djibouti, and the Port of Cagliari.
Try: Learn more about roll-on/roll-off cargo at Worldwide Shipping Agency.

Port of Walvis Bay

The port of Walvis Bay is located on the west coast of southern Africa. It is the main port of Namibia and handles more than 2 million tons of cargo every year. It has good road and rail connections with the rest of the country.
Try: Find out more about the port of Walvis Bay at Namport, the National Port Authority in Namibia.

Port of Cape Town

The Port of Cape Town, South Africa is one of the world's most strategically located ports. It handles general cargo and containers. It has extensive ship repair facilities.
Try: Read much more about the Port of Cape Town at Ports & Ships.